have swept the decks clean and finished them
all at one blow. In the next place, if by a miracle any of them did get
safely ashore, you may be sure that they would have buried their comrades
the next morning. You see, it is sand up there where the wreckage lies,
and it would not have taken long to scrape a hole deep enough and large
enough to bury them. Ah! the captain is getting impatient," he exclaimed,
as the sound of a gun came across the water. "No wonder," he went on as he
looked at the sky.

They had been about an hour on shore, and had been so fully occupied in
examining the wreckage, and in looking for some signs that might tell them
if any of the crew had gained the shore, that they had paid no attention
whatever to the weather. A great change had taken place since they had
left the ship. The wind had entirely died away, and a darkness had crept
over the sky; it was not a cloud, but a sort of dull vapour.

"Quick, lads, to the boat," the mate said, "there is not a moment to be
lost. There is a storm brewing, and the sooner we are on board the
better."

They ran through the water, got into the boat, and pushed her off.

"Be careful, men; paddle quietly until we are well beyond the rocks. Keep
a sharp look out forward." Another gun was fired from the ship as he
spoke. "Steady, men, steady!" he said; "you can row as hard as you like
when we get outside, but it is of no use knocking a hole in her to start
with."

As soon as they were beyond the rocks they bent to the oars. At the mate's
orders, the two apprentices and the sailors in the bow took their seats by
the rowers and double-banked the oars.

"The skipper is getting every rag of sail off her," the mate said, as he
looked ahead. "There is another gun! It is getting darker and darker, I
don't suppose they can make us out. Give way, lads."

The gloom deepened rapidly. The ship continued to fire guns every minute
or two, and it was well she did so, for the mate had now lost sight of
her.

"Which way do you think it will come, sir?" Stephen, who was at the
stroke-oar, asked.

The mate shook his head. "There is no knowing," he said. "If it is
inshore, the _Tiger_ will lay her bones by that wreck behind us. We can't
be above a mile away from her by the sound of that last gun. But it will
be a close thing, I can hear the wind coming."

Even those rowing were conscious of a low moaning sound.

"It comes from behind I think," the mate said in answer to