tely from the cave.

Old Jeph staggered out after them, and made for the cottage of his
friend Coleman. The latter met him near the threshold.

"Why, Jeph, is this you? I've bin searchin' for ye more than an hour,
and come to the conclusion ye must ha' gone home; but why, you're ill,
Jeph!"

"Ay, I'm ill, come, help me home."

"Nay, not this night, you shall stop with me; the missus'll give you a
cup o' tea as will do yer old heart good."

"No, I must go home now," said Jeph, in a tone so decided that his
friend was staggered.

"You can't walk it, you know, in a stormy night like this."

"I _will_ walk it," said Jeph.

"Come, then, if you're bent on it, you'd better go in your own lugger;
it's here just now, agoin' to put off in ten minutes or so. Nothin'
ever stops Bluenose, blow high, blow low. W'en he wants to go off to
sea, he _goes_ off, right or wrong. But you'll take a glass o' grog
first."

Old Jeph would not do this, so he was led down to the beach by Coleman,
where they found the boat being launched.

"Good-bye, old man," said Coleman, helping him over the side.

"_Good-bye,--farewell_," said Jeph earnestly. "I came here to-day
a-purpose to say farewell; shake hands, God bless you."

The coast-guard-man was surprised by the warmth of his friend's manner,
as well as by his words; but before he could ask him what he meant, the
boat was run down the beach and out to sea. An hour later old Jeph was
carefully put to bed in his own cottage, by his friend Captain Bluenose.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

THE STORM AND THE WRECK.

Guy Foster, clad in a sou'-wester hat and oilskin coat, stood at the end
of the pier of Ramsgate Harbour, with his sweet wife, Lucy, clinging to
his arm, and a sturdy boy of about four years old, holding on with one
hand to the skirts of his coat, and with the other grasping the sleeve
of his silver-haired grandsire, Mr Burton.

It was night, and a bitter gale was blowing from the north-east,
accompanied by occasional showers, of sleet. Crowds of seamen and
others stood on the pier eagerly watching the lifeboat, which was being
got ready to put off to sea.

"It is too cold for you, darling," said Guy, as he felt Lucy's arm
tremble.

"Oh no! I should like to stay," said Lucy, anxiously. Just then a
tremendous wave burst on the massive stone pier, and a shower of spray
fell upon the crowd. Lucy and her companions received a copious share
of it.

"You are wet thro