asunder. The sea was so rough, and the wind so high, that no help could
be rendered from the shore. Midday drew on--came--passed, and the
villagers assembled on the heights (their eyes fixed the while on the
devoted vessel like vultures watching for their prey) had at length the
satisfaction of seeing the laboring bark yield to the war of the
elements, and her timbers float, piecemeal, over the waters.

"But nothing of any consequence came ashore. A stray spar or two,
a hen-coop, two or three empty barrels, a child's light straw hat, and a
sailor's cap--these were all.

"The gale held: the wind blew off shore, and at nightfall the
wrecking-party, hungry, weary, and out of humor, retired to their cabins.
About an hour after midnight heavy rain fell; the wind shifted, and blew
inshore. With the first appearance of dawn, Abigail's cottage door was
seen slowly to unclose, and she herself to emerge from it, and stealthily
creep down to the shore. Once there, a steep sea-wall--thrown up to
protect the adjoining lowlands from inundation--screened her from
observation. She was absent about an hour, returned apparently
empty-handed, reentered her cottage, nor passed its threshold again
during the remainder of the day.

"But that was a memorable day for the _industrious_. My villagers were
early astir. Their muddy shore was strewed with fragments of the wreck;
and when the tide went down, and the gale moderated, half imbedded in the
Jibber Sand was found 'goodly spoil.' Packages of costly shawls, hampers
of Dutch liqueurs, bales of linen, several kegs of brandy, and two small
canvas-bags containing bullion, were a few of the 'waifs and strays'
which keen eyes speedily detected, and stalwart arms as speedily
appropriated.

"Later on in the afternoon a very bustling personage made his appearance,
much blown and overheated, who announced himself as 'acting under
authority from Lloyd's,' and 'representing the under-writers.' At his
heels, uttering volleys of threats, and menacing every soul he met with
hideous 'penalties according to act of parliament,' followed a very
lady-like young gentleman, with a thin reedy voice, and light down upon
his chin, 'charged with protecting the public revenue.' Well for him in a
dark night if he could protect himself!

"Worthy souls! They might as well have spared their well-fed nags, and
have remained at home snugly housed in their chimney-corner. ''Tis the
early bird that gets the worm.' They