ll those familiar ripples that
mark the sands when the tide is out. On the Goodwins those ripples are
gigantic banks, to be measured by feet, not by inches. I can speak from
personal experience, having once visited the Goodwins and walked among
the sand-banks at low water. From one to another of these banks this
splendid boat was thrown. Each roaring surf caught it by the bow or
stern, and, whirling it right round, sent it crashing on the next ledge.
The Portuguese sailors gave up all hope and clung to the thwarts in
silent despair, but the crew did not lose heart altogether. They knew
the boat well, had often gone out to battle in her, and hoped that they
might yet be saved, if they could only escape striking on the pieces of
old wreck with which the sands were strewn.

Thus, literally, yard by yard, with a succession of shocks, that would
have knocked any ordinary boat to pieces, did that lifeboat drive,
during two hours, over two miles of the Goodwin Sands!

A thrilling and graphic account of this wreck and rescue is given in the
Reverend John Gilmore's book, "Storm Warriors," in which he tells us
that while this exciting work was going on, the _Aid_ lay head to wind,
steaming half power, and holding her own against the storm, waiting for
her lifeboat, but no lifeboat returned to her, and her gallant captain
became more and more anxious as time flew by. Could it be possible that
her sturdy little comrade, with whom she had gone out to battle in
hundreds of gales, was overcome at last and destroyed! They signalled
again and again, but got no reply. Then, as their fears increased, they
began to cruise about as near to the dangerous shoals as they dared--
almost playing with death--as they eagerly sought for their consort. At
last the conviction was forced upon them that the boat must have been
stove by the wreck and swamped. In the midst of their gathering despair
they caught sight of the lightship's bright beam, shining like a star of
hope through the surrounding darkness. With a faint hope they made for
the vessel and hailed her. "Have you seen anything of the lifeboat?"
was the eager question. "Nothing! nothing!" was the sad reply. Back
they went again to the place they had left, determined to cruise on,
hoping against hope, till the night should pass away. Hour after hour
they steamed hither and thither, with anxiously straining eyes. At last
grey dawn appeared and the wreck became dimly visible. T