ry notes, and The Starry Flag again
lost sight of the chase in the gloom.

The weather moderated in the morning, though the gale only partially
subsided. Again the Caribbee was discovered, hull down, in the south.
She was then entering the Straits, to the southward of King's Island,
where no prudent navigator would venture in bad weather. The yacht was
headed in that direction, and anxiously did Levi watch the chase. He
had no intention of following her through the intricacies of that
rock-bounded channel. Two hours later, the cry ran through the yacht
that the Caribbee had struck on a hidden reef!

The heart of the young skipper was in his mouth. Bessie was in great
peril, and he was almost distracted as he thought of her, perishing in
the angry waves, surrounded only by enemies. The yacht dashed madly on
towards the scene of the disaster. Trembling with anxiety, Levi went
below to consult his chart, which lay all the time on the cabin table.
He found the locality, and the ledge on which the Caribbee had struck.
There was no other peril very near it, and he stood on confidently till
The Starry Flag was within hail of the wreck, or would have been in
less tempestuous weather.

The foremast of the Caribbee had gone by the board, and the waves were
making a clean sweep over her decks. The life-boat, which swung at the
port davits of the yacht, had been cleared away, in readiness to be
lowered. Finding he had good holding-ground under him, Levi ordered the
men to let go the heavy anchor. Fortunately it brought her up; but the
other anchor was also thrown over. The sails were lowered, and the
yacht rode tolerably easy. The gale was abating, and Levi was satisfied
that the two anchors would hold her.

The life-boat was manned with four men, and Levi took his place in the
stern-sheets. It was no easy matter to board the wreck while the sea
was making a clean breach over her. She had struck her bow upon the
sharp rock, and stove in her bottom. She had filled, and her stern had
settled down, and the water was over her taffrail, while her stem
projected up into the air. Her hull had swung round a little, so that
there was a choice of sides in approaching her. The foremast had been
jammed up by the breaking of the keelson where it was set, and hung
over the side. To this the life-boat was made fast, and Levi, followed
by Bob Thomas, climbed on board.

Crouching under the lee of the camboose, the young skipper found
Bessie,