nker Robin Lyth," he shouted
aloud, with the glory of a man who has verified his own opinions. "He
puts all the danger upon his elders, and tells them there is none of
it. A' might just as well have been my head, if a wave hadn't lifted the
muzzle when that straight-eyed chap let fire. Bear a hand, boys, and cut
away the wreck. He hathn't got never another shot to send. He hath saved
us trouble o' shortening that there canvas. We don't need too much way
on her."

This was true enough, as all hands knew; for the craft was bound to take
the beach, without going to pieces yet awhile. Jem Brown stood at the
wheel himself, and carried her in with consummate skill.

"It goeth to my heart to throw away good stuff," he grumbled at almost
every creak. "Two hunder pound I would 'a paid myself for this here
piece of timber. Steady as a light-house, and as handy as a mop; but
what do they young fellows care? There, now, my lads, hold your legs a
moment; and now make your best of that."

"With a crash, and a grating, and a long sad grind, the nuptial ark of
the wealthy Dutchman cast herself into her last bed and berth.

"I done it right well," said the Grimsby man.

The poor old bilander had made herself such a hole in the shingle that
she rolled no more, but only lifted at the stern and groaned, as the
quiet waves swept under her. The beach was swarming with men, who gave
her a cheer, and flung their hats up; and in two or three minutes as
many gangways of timber and rope were rigged to her hawse-holes, or
fore-chains, or almost anywhere. And then the rolling of puncheons
began, and the hoisting of bales, and the thump and the creak, and the
laughter, and the swearing.

"Now be you partiklar, uncommon partiklar; never start a stave nor fray
a bale. Powerful precious stuff this time. Gold every bit of it, if it
are a penny. They blessed coast-riders will be on us round the point.
But never you hurry, lads, the more for that. Better a'most to let 'em
have it, than damage a drop or a thread of such goods."

"All right, Cappen Brown. Don't you be so wonnerful unaisy. Not the
first time we have handled such stuff."

"I'm not so sure of that," replied Brown, as he lit a short pipe and
began to puff. "I've a-run some afore, but never none so precious."

Then the men of the coast and the sailors worked with a will, by the
broad light of the moon, which showed their brawny arms and panting
chests, with the hoisting, and the heavin