A portion broke over
her, but the next moment she was again driven forward. That fearful,
dread-inspiring sound, which tells that the keel has come in contact
with a hard rock, continued. Every instant Adair dreaded that the
terrific crash would come which would denote the doom of all on board.
Still he stood calm, and apparently unmoved, as before.

"Keep to your stations, my lads! we will not yet let the old ship go
down," shouted Adair.

The order was repeated along the deck. The magnificent discipline which
prevails in the British navy, even at that terrible moment, triumphed.
Not a man deserted his post, but continued pumping or baling away as if
no rugged reef was beneath the ship's keel. Several times she rose and
surged onwards, but it was only to feel the rock still under her. On
she went. At that instant the wind began to abate, and even the sea was
calmer than it had been before she had touched the reef. Still it could
not be doubted that she had received a serious injury. As the howling
of the tempest abated, Adair could make his voice heard along the decks.

"My lads," he said, "I know you to be true British seamen. Things may
be bad enough, but we must not give way to despair. Maintain the
discipline of which we are justly proud, obey your officers, and don't
give in while a plank remains above water. The weather is moderating,
and as soon as it is calm enough we will try and discover the amount of
damage the ship has received. Stick to the pumps and buckets, and we
will see if we cannot heave the water out of her faster than it comes
in. Now, turn to again!" The men, while Adair was speaking, had
knocked off for a few minutes. He saw, however, that he had gained
time, by the energy with which they again set to work, he himself
showing an example by handing along the buckets, as did all his
officers. Adair and Green, however, had to knock off to try and take an
observation, for the clouds gave signs of breaking, and they hoped every
moment to see the sun burst forth. It was all-important indeed to
ascertain the ship's exact position on the chart, that they might steer
for the nearest spot where she might, if necessary, be beached, or at
all events under the lee of which she might anchor, and an endeavour be
made to repair damages. Whether this could be done or not could only be
ascertained by a more thorough examination of her bottom than had yet
been possible. The midshipmen were summ