Rocks ahead!" he yelled. "Port! Port your helm or we'll be
upon 'em in another minute!"

The ship quivered as the great rudder was shifted to swing her about.
Down in the engine-room there was a crash of gongs as the pilot gave
the signals to stop and reverse.

Would the ship be turned in time? Could her headway be checked? Had
the lookout cried his warning quickly enough?

These questions were in every anxious heart aboard the _Jessie Drew_.
A shudder seemed to run through the ship. Nat peered ahead, and held
his breath, as if that would lighten the weight that was rushing upon
the dangerous rocks.

But skill and prompt action told. Slowly the freighter swept to one
side, and as at slackened speed she glided past the danger point, Nat
and Mr. Dunn, from their position near the rail, could have tossed a
biscuit on the rocks, so narrow was the space that separated the ship
from them.

CHAPTER X

SAM SHAW APPEARS

The vessel had not come to a stop, before orders were hurriedly given
to let go the anchor. The narrow escape had decided Captain Marshall
that it would not be safe to proceed, and, as there was good holding
ground not far from the rocks, he determined to lay-to until the fog
lifted.

From the pilot-house came the captain, Mr. Weatherby, and Andy Simmon.
The pilot was very much excited.

"Those were false lights, or else something is out of order with the
machinery," he exclaimed. "The light on the point flashes once every
five seconds. The next light, beyond the point, flashes once every
fifteen seconds. This light flashed once every fifteen seconds, for
Andy and I both kept count."

"That's right," said the assistant.

"And I calculated by that," went on the pilot, "that we were beyond
the point, for I couldn't see anything but the light, and I had to go
by that. I was on the right course, if that light was the one beyond
the point, but naturally on the wrong one if that was the point
light."

"And it was the point light," said the captain solemnly.

"It was, Mr. Marshall, and only for the lookout we would now be on the
rocks."

"I can't blame you for the narrow escape we had," went on the
commander. "Still----"

"Of course you can't blame me!" exclaimed the pilot, as though
provoked that any such suspicion should rest on him. "I was steering
right, according to the lights. There is something wrong with them.
The lights were false. Whether they have been deliberately changed, or