hey passed sounded
ominously in our ears. Even then I feared that Potto Jumbo would lose
his hold, or that Mr Hooker, weak from his illness, might be torn away
by the fury of the sea. I ran forward with another rope, the end of
which Oliver held, and just as Roger caught hold of Potto Jumbo's hand,
and was dragging him up, I grasped him by the arm. Mr Hooker seemed
almost exhausted, and could not utter a word. With the help of Oliver
and Tanda we at length got them up on the rock, though not till Potto
Jumbo had severely hurt his legs against the sharp points.

"Heaven be praised, it is done! You all right soon, Mr Hooker,"
exclaimed Potto Jumbo, as he committed his charge to our hands.

The boat meantime was slowly drifting in, in spite of the efforts of two
men on board to hold her; one indeed appeared to have been hurt, and
able to exert but little strength. Who they were we could not then see,
but I hoped that my old friend Dick Tarbox had escaped.

"Is the boatswain one of them?" I asked of Potto Jumbo.

"Yes, massa, yes," answered Potto; "and t'other Mr Thudicumb. But help
dem, help dem; no mind me. I take care of Mr Hooker; Mr Thudicumb no
help himself."

It was time indeed for us to exert all our strength, for the boat was
now being driven helplessly towards the rock; and it seemed but too
probable, should she strike it, that those in her would be thrown out,
and very likely swept off by the sea: indeed, they were in a more
dangerous position than had they held on alone to the rope. There was
on one side of the rock a sort of gulf, which ran up some way towards
the beach. Should the boat strike the point, she would very likely be
dashed to pieces, but if we could manage to get hold of her as she drove
by on one side, we might, I knew, rescue our friends and save her. This
thought passed rapidly through my mind. The rest of our party saw what
was likely to happen as well as I did, and together we eagerly stood
waiting for the boat to reach us.

On she came. Mr Thudicumb managed to crawl to the helm, while Dick
Tarbox stood in the bows. Another sea came roaring in. The boatswain
held a rope in his hand. I almost shrieked with terror as I saw the
boat, as I thought, coming towards the point; but the mate, moving the
helm, she grazed by it, and the next instant Tarbox hove the rope. We
caught it, and hauling on together as we ran along, drew the boat's head
for an instant in towards us. Tarb