the rest, would be
made unhappy on my account.

In spite of the coxswain's orders, I stood up, holding the rope with my
left hand, waving my handkerchief with the other, hoping that papa would
see it, and at once know what I was doing.

I quickly sat down again, for I heard the coxswain cry out, "Hold fast,
my lads!" and, turning my head for an instant over my shoulder, I saw a
tremendous wave come rushing on with a crest of foam curling over it as
if about to overwhelm the boat. On the crew pulled, however; when in an
instant the sea broke, a large portion coming right down into the boat,
wetting us through fore and aft. But the men seemed to think nothing of
it, and on they pulled. Several other seas broke over us in the same
way, half filling the boat; but she was so constructed that the water
ran out again, and directly afterwards she was as buoyant as ever. We
were pulling away to windward, to get a sufficient offing from the land
to set sail. It was a long business, for although the men pulled hard,
the wind was in our teeth, and the seas seemed to be sending us back as
fast as we advanced. Such, however, was not the case, for on looking
towards the shore I saw that we were gradually increasing our distance
from it.

Thus some hours were passed; they appeared to me the longest I had ever
known, and I again and again wished myself on shore. Had I been one of
the crew, and felt that by my exertions I might have contributed to the
saving of the shipwrecked sailors, the case would have been very
different; but I had to sit quiet.

At last the coxswain shouted out, "Make sail!" The mast was stepped,
and a double-reefed foresail and mizen were set. The boat could
scarcely carry a smaller sail out; even with that she heeled over. Her
head was now pointed towards the wreck, which seemed farther and farther
off; indeed, we could only occasionally get a glimpse of her as we rose
on the summits of the seas. How fearful must have been the anxiety of
those on board the wreck! They might possibly have seen the boat; but
if they did they might have feared that she would not reach them, or
that they would not be able to get on board her before their ship went
to pieces. At length the bank was reached which must be crossed before
the wreck could be gained. The sea here was breaking tremendously; the
waves leaping and clashing together, gave the water the appearance of a
huge boiling cauldron. The boat seemed lit