ich bound the "Yellow Boy" gave way,
as she was now very heavy, being level full of water. She only hung by
the anchor rope now, like a man being hanged, and every wave that rose
and broke in and around her, swung her from side to side, or spun her
round till she gradually banged herself to pieces against the cruel
granite walls. Then the tide gradually went down, and left the mere
dangling skeleton of my once beloved craft, hanging high and dry above
the send of the foaming waves, which at intervals rushed among the now
exposed rocks. The anchor held, and to the rope hung the two upper
strakes, to which were attached the two fore compartments; all the rest
was completely swept away, and with it my hope of again being able to
take the sea for fishing, shooting, or sailing purposes. Alas! poor
"Yellow Boy," I shall never see your like again! (neither probably will
anyone else!) She answered my purpose admirably, but as a model of naval
construction she was an absolute monstrosity, and would have made an
object of great interest in a naval exhibition. I deeply regretted her
loss, as I wanted to take her home as a great curiosity to open the eyes
of the Yarmouth fishermen; but it was not to be, and I turned sadly
away; my chief occupation (that of boating) being completely gone.

As I stood once more on the Cotills I saw two small vessels making for
the Little Russel, or "Petit Ruan," as the Channel between Guernsey and
Herm is called. They were labouring heavily, with very little canvas
set, and evidently trying to gain the shelter of the islands, and if
possible make for St. Peter's or St. Sampson's Harbour. Along they came,
struggling and creeping closer, fathom by fathom, till just as the
foremost was passing La Fauconnaire, her foremast snapped short off by
the deck. In a moment she broached too, driving gradually broadside on
to Jethou. The other finding she could not run into port, ran off
towards Jersey where she might get better shelter, if it were not
altogether a case of leaping out of the frying-pan into the fire, as the
Jersey rocks are quite as hard and sharp as ours. At any rate in half an
hour she was lost to sight.

The one which was now so helplessly driving towards where I stood was a
trim little trading ketch of some fifty tons burthen, and from my
elevated position I could see everything that took place on her deck. I
saw the men (there were three men and a boy) cast out two anchors which
appeared to