s if on the point of falling. Fearful, indeed, was the scene.
The boatswain, getting into the top, helped me up, and I found myself
seated with Oliver by my side. We could just distinguish the foremast
through the gloom, the sea rising almost to cover the top to which the
Lascars were clinging, curling over them as if to drag them from their
perches.

Perilous as was our position, a cry escaped our men as we saw the
foremast begin to totter. Another sea came and over it went, carrying
the shrieking wretches clinging to it away in its embrace. Though good
swimmers, in vain they attempted to reach the mainmast. The next sea
swept them away to leeward. Their fate might be ours, however, any
moment. We all knew that very well. With what desperate energy did we
cling to that lone mast in the midst of the raging ocean. As we looked
round our eyes could not pierce the thick gloom, nor ascertain whether
any land was near. Oliver Farwell was clinging on next to me. The
other men had secured themselves round the mast, others to the top. No
one spoke; indeed it seemed to all of us that our last moments had
arrived. Every instant we expected to be hurled off from our unstable
resting-place, as the seas dashed with redoubled fury against the wreck.
We could hear the vessel breaking up below us, and we all well knew
that in a short time the mast itself must go for want of support.

Scarcely had one roaring wave passed under us than another followed.
Above our heads was a dark, murky sky, below and around the foaming sea.
Even the best manned life-boat could scarcely have lived amid that
foaming mass of water.

"It is very terrible!" I could not help exclaiming.

"Trust in God," said a voice near me.

Oliver Farwell spoke.

"I do, Oliver, I do," I answered.

"Right, Mr Walter," he said. "If he thinks fit he can find a way for
us to escape."

"Hold on, lads, even though the mast gives way!" shouted the boatswain.
"The mast will float us, and maybe carry us to some pleasant shore.
Daylight will come in time, and show us whereabouts we are. Never fear,
lads."

"Ay, ay," answered several voices. "We will cling to the mast as long
as our fingers can gripe hold of it."

"Hold on, Oliver, hold on!" I said. "Don't you feel as if the mast was
going?"

Scarcely had I uttered the words when another sea came rolling up. It
struck the shattered wreck like a huge hammer. In an instant it seemed
as if all her timb