eir account, and suspected that some accident
must have happened to prevent her return. Instantly jumping into the
pinnace with the best hands he could collect, he pulled away for the
boat, the crew of which were labouring desperately to head her off the
breakers. He had gone but a short distance when he caught sight of the
two brigs, like huge floating bonfires, gliding into the midst of the
foaming waters, which danced up wildly around them, as if greedy for
their prey. A few seconds the vessels struggled with the wild breakers,
then their keels grated on the sharp rocks, they rose and fell a few
seconds more, when, the waters leaping triumphantly over them, they were
shattered into a thousand fragments, which were scattered on every side.

Jack's interest was, however, centred on the boat which was already
awfully near the breakers, and once in them her fate would be that of
the slavers. His men strained every muscle to reach her. Already
scarcely half a cable's length existed between her and the inner line of
breakers, a foaming sea had burst close astern. Jack dashing forward
shouted to the bowman to have a rope ready. It was hove on board as he
swept round, and securing it he steered away from the dangerous spot.

Two of her oars had been lost alongside the burning brig, and another
had been sprung; and had not assistance come, the boat and all on board
would in another minute to a certainty have been engulfed. As Jack made
his way back to the brig he was received with loud cheers from the
corvette and prize.

He was thankful when he at length reached the deck of the _Supplejack_,
feeling that he ought to punish the two youngsters for their misconduct,
though very unwilling to do so. He contented himself with giving them a
severe lecture, and pointing out to them the fearful risk they had run
of losing their lives.

"When duty calls you, it is quite a different matter," he observed:
"then never be daunted by danger. Your duty was to remain on board.
Had you been lost I should have had double cause to mourn for you, as
you would have uselessly thrown your lives away."

"That's just what Admiral Triton said to me," observed Tom to Desmond.
"Jack is right--no doubt about that."

By this time the tide had sufficiently risen to allow a passage over the
bar, and Murray being unwilling to lose a favourable wind by a longer
delay, the anchors were hove up, sail was made, and the two men-of-war,
with the ca