us moving to
and fro, and the busy hum of voices came upon the wind; forms were
indistinctly seen hurrying backward and forward upon the very verge of
the white foam boiling from the huge billows. Hastening to the spot, we
found a number of fishermen--their wives assisting in the
scrutiny--carefully examining the fragments of wreck which the waves
were from time to time casting up, and throwing with a heavy lunge upon
the shore. Either for purposes of plunder, or for the more ostensible
design of contributing to their preservation, sundry packages were
occasionally conveyed away, subsequently to an eager examination of
their contents. My associate ran into the thickest of the group,
anxiously inquiring as to the fate of the crew, and if any lives had
been preserved.

"I guess," cried an old hard-featured sinner, "they be where they'll
need no lookin' after. Last brast o' wind, six weeks agone next St
Barnaby, I gied my cabin to the lady and her children--an' the pains I
waur like to ha' for my labour--I didn't touch a groat till the parson
gied me a guinea out o' th' 'scription;--but I may trot gaily hoam
to-night. There's no live lumber to stow i' my loft; the fishes ha' the
pick o' the whole cargo this bout."

"Canna we get the boats?--I can pull an oar thou knows, Darby, wi' the
best on 'em," inquired the female.

"Boats!" exclaimed Darby; "ne'er a boat would live but wi' keel
uppermost. I'se not the chap to go to Davy Jones tonight pickled i'
brine, my pratty Kate."

"Thou'rt a greedy glead;--I'se go ask Simon; but I'll warrant thou'lt be
hankering after the reward, and the biggest share to thine own
clutches."

She turned away from the incensed fisherman; and proceeding to a short
distance, we found a knot of persons gathered around a half-drowned
wretch who owed his appearance again upon land to having been lashed on
some lumber which the sea had just cast ashore. Almost fainting from
cold and exhaustion, he was undergoing a severe questioning from the
bystanders--every one wishing to know the name of the ship, whither
bound, and the whole particulars of the disaster. We just came in time
for his release; and I soon had the satisfaction to find the poor fellow
in my quarters, before a comfortable fire, his clothes drying, and his
benumbed limbs chafed until the circulation was again pretty nigh
restored. After drinking a tumbler of grog he appeared to recover
rapidly; and we found on inquiry that he was ma