shing on through the broken water
with a thick misty rain all around and no chance of making out their
whereabouts.

"Shall we be saved?" said Mrs Strong at last in a whisper as, utterly
worn out, the captain came at last and sat down between his wife and
son.

"Don't ask, my dear," he said calmly. "We have done, and are doing, all
that men can do. The rest must be left."

Night came, a night that was even blacker than that which had passed,
but the rain did not cease nor the sky clear. Everything a hundred
yards away seemed to be so much solid darkness; but, on the other hand,
the sea grew no rougher, and the wind sent the boat rapidly along.

It must have been about midnight that, as nearly everyone in the gig
were plunged in a stupor-like sleep, the first-mate was steering, the
boat gliding swiftly through the broken waves. The major sat on one
side and Mark on the other talking from time to time in a low voice.

A calm feeling of despair had settled down among them, and when they did
speak it was about some indifferent matter, all shrinking from anything
concerning their approaching fate, when Mark, who was stooping to pat
the poor wounded dog at his feet, where he lay curled in company with
shivering Jack, suddenly laid his hand upon Mr Gregory's arm.

"What's that?" he said in a whisper.

"What? I heard nothing," said the major.

"Silence!" cried the mate sternly; and he listened intently to a low
roaring noise.

"Breakers!" he said suddenly. "We are near land."

"Land?" cried Mark.

"Yes, my boy. Oh, if it were day!"

The mate changed the course of the boat directly so as to run off to the
left, but at the end of five minutes he altered the course again.

"Breakers there too," he said. "We are between them."

"Well, then, quick!" said the major. "Go about and let's turn back."

"My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go
about, the boat will fill instantly and sink. Our only chance is in
keeping on."

As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now,
rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks
could be heard to right and left.

"But you don't know where you are going," said the major.

"No, sir. But it is all I can do. Mark Strong, rouse your father; and,
major, be prepared to swim right ahead if anything happens."

"What's the good?" said the major calmly. And then, "Shall I wake them,
or let them meet it