oam."

We all looked; and at length both Oliver and I agreed with Grace that
there was a vessel's sail. She seemed to be coming towards the island.
How eagerly we gazed at her! At length we had no doubt about the
matter; and Oliver said he was sure she was the cutter. We wished to
let Mr Sedgwick and the Frau know the good news; and yet neither of us
liked to leave the spot.

"Merlin can remain with you," said Oliver at length, "and I will go and
tell them;" and off he set.

The cutter drew nearer and nearer, carrying a press of sail, considering
the strong wind which was now blowing. She was apparently making for
Hope Harbour, instead of standing in towards Flagstaff Rock. From the
way of the wind, the entrance to Hope Harbour would be tolerably
sheltered. This probably was the reason. I understood enough about sea
affairs to know that she was carrying so much canvas in order to weather
Flagstaff Cape. When that was done, I trusted she would be safe. Oh,
how I wished we had a spy-glass to see who was on board! Could Walter
be there? How my heart beat! Poor dear Grace, too, was greatly
agitated. We had long wished for this moment; and now it had come. Not
only were we still in doubt, but agitated by anxiety for the safety of
those on board. It appeared to me that our friends were in great
danger, from the way the little cutter heeled over to the wind. On she
stood, without attempting to lessen the sail; when, as we were gazing at
her, suddenly a fearful blast struck her. Over bent her mast and sail.
We both of us shrieked with horror. Before we could look again she was
upset, and the sea breaking wildly over her.

"Oh, she will sink! she will sink!" cried Grace--"and all will be
drowned!"

She had passed the cape, and was driving in towards the shore, the sea
every instant increasing in height and fury. Would she float till she
reached it? or, should she reach it, would she escape the fearful rocks
which lined so long an extent of the coast? We watched her with fearful
anxiety, trying to ascertain what those on board were doing; but the
distance and the spray which drove over her almost concealed them from
our sight. We were still gazing at them, when we heard my uncle and
Oliver utter exclamations of dismay. They had just arrived at the spot
where we were.

"We must go round to Cormorant Bay," said my uncle. "I think she will
drive ashore thereabouts, if she floats as long; and if our frie