ck; but the tide had been falling, and when they
tried to pull up to their anchor the boat struck heavily on the edge of
this basin. They worked to get off the shoals with the energy of men
who believe that their lives depend on their efforts. For a moment they
succeeded in getting afloat, but again struck and remained fast.

Meanwhile the brig was lifted by each wave, that came rushing over the
shoals like a mountain chain of snow, and let fall with a thundering
crash. Her timbers began to snap like pipe-stems, and, as she worked
nearer and nearer to the boat, the wildly-swaying yards threatened
immediate destruction. The heavy seas flew continually over the
lifeboat, so that passengers and crew could do nothing but hold on to
the thwarts for their lives. At last the brig came so near that there
was a stir among the men; they were preparing for the last struggle--
some of them intending to leap into the rigging of the wreck and take
their chance. But the coxswain shouted, "Stick to the boat, boys, stick
to the boat!" and the men obeyed.

At that moment the boat lifted a little on the surf and grounded again.
New hope was inspired by this. They pulled at the cable and shoved
might and main with the oars. They succeeded in getting out of
immediate danger, but still could not pull up to their anchor in the
teeth of wind and tide. The coxswain then saw plainly that there was
but one resource left--to cut the cable and drive away to leeward right
across the Goodwin Sands, which at that place were two miles wide. But
there was not yet sufficient water on the sands even for the attempting
of that forlorn hope. As far as could be seen in that direction, ay,
and far beyond the power of vision, there was nothing but a chaos of
wild, tumultuous, whirling foam, without sufficient depth to float them
over, so they held on, intending to wait till the tide, which had
turned, should rise. Very soon, however, the anchor began to drag.
This compelled them to hoist sail, cut the cable sooner than they had
intended, and attempt to beat to windward--off the sands. It was in
vain. A moment more, and they struck with tremendous force. A breaker
came rolling towards them, filled the boat, caught her up like a
plaything on its crest, and, hurling her a few yards onwards, let her
fall with a shock that well-nigh tore every man out of her. Each
successive breaker treated her in this way!

Those who dwell by the seashore know we