e came into view.

"We'll be home soon now, daddy," said Billy, as they walked the
quarter-deck together.

"P'raps, but we an't there yet," said Gaff; "an' I never count my
chickens before they are hatched."

Gaff and his son no longer wore the rough skin garments which had
clothed them while in their island-home. They had been rigged out in
man-o'-war habiliments by the kindness of those on board the "Blazer,"
but they had steadily refused to permit the barber to operate upon them,
and still wore their locks shaggy and long. They were, perhaps, as fine
specimens of a hardy and powerful man and boy as could be found
anywhere; for Gaff, although past his prime, was not a whit less
vigorous and athletic than he had been in days of yore, though a little
less supple; and Billy, owing probably to his hardy and healthy style of
life on the island, was unusually broad and manly for his age.

In a few hours the steamer made the harbour of Aberdeen. The
passengers, who had been very busy all the morning in packing up the
things they had used on the voyage, were now assembled in groups along
the side of the vessel trying to make out objects on shore. The captain
stood on the bridge between the paddles giving directions to the
steersman, and everything gave promise of a speedy and happy landing.

A heavy sea, however, was still running, filling the bay to the
northward of the harbour with foaming breakers, while the pier-head was
engulfed in clouds of spray as each billow rolled past it and fell in
thunder on the bar.

Every one on board looked on with interest; but on that clear bright
day, no one thought of danger.

Just as the steamer came close up to the bar, a heavy sea struck her on
the port bow, driving her a little too near the pier. The captain
shouted to the steersman, but the man either did not understand him, or
did not act with sufficient promptitude, for the next wave sent them
crashing on the portion of bulwark or breakwater that juts out from the
head of the Aberdeen pier.

The consternation and confusion that ensued is beyond description. The
women screamed, the men shouted. The captain ordered the engines to be
reversed, and this was done at once, but the force of the next billow
was too great. It lifted the vessel up and let her fall heavily again
on the pier, where she lay hard and fast with her back broken. Another
wave lifted her; the two halves of the vessel separated and sank on each
side