possibility of the gale
increasing. The men who had been rescued were brought on shore. Mason
hurried to them, and eagerly inquired who was the woman on board. They
were common seamen, and did not know her name. She was a lady, and had
come on board at Cape Town just as the ship was sailing. That was all
they knew. The naval officer had earnestly been watching the huge
rollers as they came tumbling on towards the shore. Suddenly he cried
out, "Now, gentlemen, we'll be off." Away went the boat amid the
foaming seas towards the hapless wreck.

CHAPTER SIX.

IN TROUBLED WATERS.

Hassall had left me his telescope. I could see the people on board the
wreck stretching out their hands towards the boat as she left the shore
on her errand of mercy. Mason every now and then asked for the glass
and looked towards the wreck. He seemed more and more convinced that
the lady on board was his wife. Yet could he do nothing? Yes, he
could. Though he could not exert his body I saw that he was doing all
that man in his utmost extremity can do. His lips were moving, his head
was bent forward, his eyes glancing at times at the boat and the ship,
his hands were clasped tightly in prayer, forgetful of the crowds
surrounding him. The boat, impelled by lusty strokes, darted on. She
reached the wreck. The lady was lifted in. No one seemed inclined to
follow. The danger was fearful. Not before, since she struck, had one
of the huge rollers failed at much shorter intervals to dash over and
over the ship. Should one of them overtake the boat her fate would be
sealed. On came the boat towards the beach. A number of seamen rushed
down into the surf to receive her and haul her up as soon as she should
touch the sand. The excitement among the crowd was tremendous. Far off
I saw one of these huge billows rushing onwards. If it broke before the
boat could reach the beach it would overwhelm her. The least excited of
the crowd, to all appearance, was my friend Captain Mason. He advanced
slowly towards the spot which it seemed probable the boat would reach,
then he stopped for a moment. On she came, her keel grated on the sand,
sturdy shoulders bore her along upwards, and ere the coming roller burst
she was safe beyond its reach. The lady lay almost overcome in the
stern sheets. Mason uttered his wife's name, she looked up, and in
another moment she was placed in his arms. A communication was
afterwards established bet