r, or cold at all
events; and she has reason for her fears--so come along."

Very unwillingly the two girls left the scene; Emily entreating me, as
she went away, not to run any more risks of being drowned. Curiously
enough, Merlin, having performed his duty, accompanied Mr Sedgwick and
the girls up to the house. In a short time Mr Sedgwick returned,
saying, that the note was from Mr Hooker, to the effect that he hoped
the vessel would hold together till the hurricane was over, as she gave
no signs of breaking up, while there was a sufficient space free of
water below, to afford shelter to all who remained on board. "I am
sorry to say," he added, "that several of the crew have attempted to
swim on shore. Two of them we saw lost before they had gone many
fathoms from the ship; but we hope the others have arrived safely. We,
however, will make a hawser fast to the rope you sent us by that noble
creature Merlin, that in case we are mistaken about the brig holding
together, we may have a better prospect of saving our lives."

On hearing this we again went to the end of the point, and found that we
could haul in upon the rope; and by the resistance it made, it was
evident that a hawser had been secured to it. It was very heavy work;
but at length, by our united efforts, we got the hawser secured to a
point of the rock. We had now a communication with our poor brig, but
we trembled to think of the danger to which Mr Hooker would be exposed
should he attempt to make use of it in his present weak health.

"A short time ago he would have come along that rope without the
slightest difficulty," observed Oliver; "but now I am afraid that, were
he to make the attempt, he could scarcely resist the strength of the
waves, and would be washed off."

"I am afraid so too, Oliver," said Roger Trew. "Sooner than he should
do that, I would go out and try to help him ashore."

Attached to the end of the hawser, I should observe, we found a light
rope. This was evidently sent that we might get another stout one on
shore. We found on trying it that we were right in our conjecture, and
hauling away as before, we got a second strong rope united to the vessel
and the land. Mr Sedgwick now wanted us to go back to the house, but
we could not think of leaving the shore till our friends were in safety.
He himself said that he would remain to watch, should any change take
place. It was an anxious time, for instead of decreasing, the win