he mouth of the harbour. We
had not much time to think of him, for we soon had to look to our own
safety. A large ship, some way inside of us, was seen to break adrift,
and soon after came driving down towards us. Being twice our size, she
might speedily have sunk us. Mr Gale and Peter were at the helm to try
and sheer the brig clear of her as she approached us. This, however,
was not easily effected when there was but a slight current. Down came
the ship! "Stand by with your axes, my lads, to cut her clear if she
touches us!" shouted the captain. The ship was still some way off, and
before she reached us, a schooner broke from her anchorage just ahead of
us and drove towards us.

The poor fellows on board stood ready to leap on our deck had she
touched us; but she just grazed by, her main-rigging for an instant
catching in ours. A few strokes of an axe cut her clear, and before any
of her crew could reach us she was driven onward. In another instant
the wind catching her side, she turned completely over. There was a
wild shriek of despair from her hapless crew. For a few moments they
struggled desperately for life; but the wind and the waves quickly drove
those off who had clung to the driving hulk, and soon not a trace of
them or her could we perceive.

While this was occurring the old man stood unmoved near the helm,
watching the approaching ship. "Arm your people with axes, Captain
Helfrich, you'll want them," said he quietly. His advice was followed.
The ship came driving down on us on the starboard bow. It appeared that
if she struck us she must sink us at the moment. Our helm was put to
starboard, and by sheering a little to the other side, we escaped the
dreaded blow. At that instant she turned round, and her main-yard got
foul of our after-rigging. This brought our sides together, and she
hung dragging on us. Instantly all hands flew to cut her adrift, for
already we had begun to drag our anchors. If we escaped sinking at
once, there was certain prospect of both of us being cast on shore.
Some of her crew endeavoured to get on board the _Rainbow_; but at the
moment they were making the attempt, down came our mainmast, crushing
several of our people beneath it. I saw the captain fall, and I thought
he was killed. The first mate was much hurt. Still the ship hung to
us, grinding away at our side and quarter, and destroying our bulwark
and boats. The foremast, it was evident, would soon fo