these boiling white breakers was a channel wide enough to carry them
over, and towards that he forced the little craft, which seemed
absolutely to leap through the breakers into the leaden current, where
she rested one moment, trembling from stem to stern like a great
crippled bird hunted to death by the elements.

North saw that they were in possible safety. He had not anticipated a
storm so terrible as that, but had intended to swamp his boat in the
breakers and swim ashore, leaving Mellen, who could not swim, as he
supposed, to his fate. But now everything else was forgotten in a
cowardly thirst for life. No man could exist for a moment in that awful
riot of waters. He watched Mellen as he kept the boat steadily in the
current, with the keen anxiety of a man to whom death is the terror of
terrors.

The little craft swept on, reeling and recoiling along the narrow path
into comparatively smooth waters. Mellen, still with one hand bearing
down the helm, seized the cable and flung it towards the disguised
boatman, who lifted his wild face for the orders he had not the power to
ask.

"Be ready," cried Mellen, with the quick resolution which marked his
character, "jump out as she nears that rock--we are safe then."

They both stood upright in the boat, swaying to and fro, but managing to
retain a firm position.

Again the hope of safety seemed a delusive one; the skiff swooped away
from the rock, spun more giddily about, and threw both men upon their
knees. Another instant that seemed endless,--an instant which decided
the fate of both, as far as this world was concerned,--these men
trembled on the brink of eternity. If the skiff obeyed the counter blast
that was upon them and swept towards the breakers, they were lost; still
there was a hope, if it veered upon the rock which loomed out from the
shore.

The moon gave light enough to enable them to watch the scene and see
their danger. Again the conflicting blasts struck them; the boat reeled,
righted itself and was dashing by the rock, upon which the two men
sprang by a simultaneous movement. A few more vigorous leaps and they
reached the shore, standing there for a moment in breathless awe. Then
they commenced hauling in the crippled boat, which the blast had seized
upon and was tearing out to sea.

"Safe!" cried Mellen, in a tone of hearty thanksgiving. "I did think
that the brave little craft would go down, but thank God, we are on dry
land."

"Safe and defe