ble. By skilful management, however,
they both succeeded in casting off and getting clear without accident.

It was only when they emerged from under the shelter of the vessel that
they felt the full power of the sea. If it had appeared stupendous when
they trod the deck of the barque, how much more so now, when, by leaning
the arm over the side, they could touch the surface. The great glassy
green billows hurled them up and down, and tossed them and buffeted them
as though the two boats were their playthings, and they were trying what
antics they could perform with them without destroying them.
Girdlestone sat very grim and pale, with Ezra at his side. The young
fellow's expression was that of a daring man who realizes his danger,
but is determined to throw no chance of safety away. His mouth was set
firm and hard, and his dark eyebrows were drawn down over his keen eyes,
which glanced swiftly to right and left, like a rat in a trap.
Miggs held the tiller, and laughed from time to time in a drunken
fashion, while the four seamen, quiet and subdued, steadied the boat as
long as they could with their oars, and looked occasionally over their
shoulders at the breakers behind them. The sun was shining on the
rugged precipices, showing out the green turf upon their summit and a
little dark group of peasants, who were watching the scene from above,
but making no effort to assist the castaways. There was no alternative
but to row straight in for the nearest point of land, for the boats were
filling, and might go down at any moment.

"The ship's gone!" Ezra said, as they rose on the summit of a wave.
When they came up again all looked round, but there was no sign of the
ill-fated _Black Eagle_.

"We'll all be gone when we get among the breakers," shouted Captain
Hamilton Miggs. "Pull, ye devils, pull! Beat the mate's boat. It's a
race, my lads, and the winnin' post is hell."

Ezra glanced at his father, and saw that his lips were moving
tremulously as they pattered forth prayers.

"Still at it!" he said, with a sneer.

"Making my peace," the old man said solemnly. "My faith is now indeed a
staff and a comfort. I look back at my long life, and though I humbly
confess that I have erred, and erred grievously, still in the main I
have walked straight. From my youth I have been frugal and industrious.
Oh, my boy, look with candid eyes into your own heart, and see if you
are fit to be called away."

"Look to your