an to the
deck. A huge sea striking the devoted ship swept him and several others
overboard.

Owen found Nat Midge close to him.

"Let us hold on to the stanchions until daylight, and we shall then see
where we are," said Owen. "There is no use in attempting to do anything
now, and it is dangerous to move about, as we may be washed overboard."

In the meantime the rest of the officers and the watch had rushed on
deck, and a cry arose of "Clear away the boats!" Several of the crew
attempted to perform this difficult operation, but the fore-part of the
first boat as she was being lowered hung in the falls, and the men who
jumped into her were swept out, while she, driven against the side of
the ship, was immediately knocked to pieces. An attempt was made to
launch another boat on the same side, and although she reached the
water, so many sprang into her that she filled before she could be
shoved off. A few got on board by the falls, but the rest were drowned.

"We will hoist out the long-boat," cried Mr Scoones. "We shall have to
cut away the masts, and we must get her into the water before that."

He issued the orders to rig the necessary tackles. As this boat was to
be got into the water on the lee side, there was a greater probability
of her swimming, provided she did not encounter any rocks.

"Hadn't we better try to get in her?" said Nat to Owen.

"She is not in the water yet," answered Owen, "and if she were, I doubt
if Mr Scoones would let us; besides, she will run a great risk of being
thrown on the rocks, or swamped during the darkness. The ship does not
give signs of going to pieces yet; perhaps the wind may abate before
morning, we shall then be able to get ashore on a raft, if any shore is
near, and there is one boat left which nobody seems to have thought of
launching."

"I'll do as you advise, but perhaps we may get off in the boat
by-and-by," said Nat.

They eagerly watched the operation of launching the long-boat. The
seas, which had battered in a portion of the bulwarks, swept across the
fore-part of the deck, and rendered it very difficult. Two or three of
the men who neglected to secure themselves were carried overboard. One
saved himself by a rope, but the shrieks of the others were heard as
they struggled vainly in the seething ocean.

What had become of the doctor, and the other officers and apprentices,
Owen could not tell. Mr Scoones he could hear issuing his orders, but
he