--why, there is a
boat," he exclaimed. "She is under sail, standing this way."

The boys together sprang back to the highest part of the rock, and David
still holding his jacket waved it vehemently. It was a small
fishing-boat, beating up from the westward. She was then standing in
for the land, and Harry, whose nautical knowledge was not as yet
by-the-bye very great, was doubtful where she would go about again
before she got near enough for those on board to see them. All they
could do was to wave and wave, and to shout--though their shouting,
shrill as it was, would have been of no use.

David, who really knew more about boat-sailing than his naval friend,
expressed his opinion that she was beating up for the little
boat-harbour of Penmore, about two miles to the eastward. How anxiously
they watched her, as the tide sweeping her along she drew nearer and
nearer! The wind, having--as the expression is--backed into the
south-east, enabled her to lay up well along shore, or their hope of
being seen would have been small indeed. For some minutes longer she
stood on almost directly for them; then at length she went about--high
time, too, for she was getting near the breakers. Now was the moment
for them to shout and wave, for if they were now neither seen nor heard
they must abandon their hope of help from her, as by the next tack she
would be a long way to the eastward. How eagerly they watched her!
Again and again they waved and shouted.

"Yes, see--she is about," cried Harry, joyfully. He was right--the boat
was evidently standing towards them. Harry, forgetting all past
dangers, shouted and danced for joy. Life was very sweet to him. He
thought nothing of the ordinary risk of losing it which he was every day
running--but this was out of the way, and he had almost made up his mind
that he should not escape. There were two people in the boat--an old
man and a boy. The sail was lowered, and getting out their oars they
approached the rock cautiously. It would have been excessively
dangerous to get close, as a heavier sea than usual might have driven
the boat against the rock and dashed her to pieces. This Harry and
David saw. The old man stood up in the boat, and beckoned to them. He
was shouting also, but the thundering noise of the sea against the rock
prevented them from hearing him.

"He wants us to swim out to the boats," said David. "I am sure that I
could do it, and I will bring in a rope for