l see what they propose."

In the meantime we endeavoured to ascertain what the people on board the
brig were going to do. The darkness, however, was so great, that we
could not distinguish anything going forward among them. There the brig
lay, however, hard and fast; the seas breaking now over one end, now
over the other, but not with such violence as we dreaded.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

WRECK OF THE DUGONG.

The arrival of my uncle with his man, carrying a quantity of the light
ratan rope, gave us some hopes of being able to rescue our friends on
board the brig.

"To be sure, this will float as easily as a cork," exclaimed Roger; "and
I see no reason why I should not tow the end off aboard the brig. You,
Tanda, pay it out as you see I want it."

Again my uncle warned him of the danger.

"Very true, sir," he answered, fastening the end round his waist; "but,
you see, if we seamen had to stop every time we saw danger, we should
very soon have to go ashore and take to nursing babies. No, sir; my
notion is that the thing is to be done. It may fail; but if it
succeeds, why, we may manage to get most of those poor fellows safe on
shore."

While we were speaking, the dog gave another loud howl, as if to make a
signal to those on board; and we fancied it could not fail to be heard
even above the roar of the breakers, although our voices could scarcely
have reached them. It was heard at all events by the rest of our party;
for directly afterwards the two girls and Oliver were seen coming down
from the house in spite of the pelting rain, covered up in mat cloaks.
The Frau followed behind, entreating them to return.

"Oh, you will be wet; you will be washed away!" she cried out. "Come
back! come back! What is the matter?"

"We were afraid something dreadful had occurred," said Emily, as she
reached the inner end of the rocks.

I entreated her and Grace not to come further, lest the seas, which
occasionally washed up, might sweep them away. Oliver, however,
clambered along to where we were.

"I may be of some use," he said. "Let me do what I can."

"Well, then, help to pay out this rope, Oliver," said Roger Trew, who
was securing the end round his own waist, having thrown off his jacket
and shoes, retaining only his trowsers, which he fastened round his
waist. "No time to be lost!" he added. "You pray for me, Walter. It
will be a difficult job, but it ought to be done, and so it must!"

Saying this