ch
moment nearer to the reef.

"Wear ship, Mr Hardy," said the captain, who had not spoken one word
since he rebuked the quarter-master--"we have but just room."

The master directed the man at the wheel to put helm up, in a firm but
subdued tone, for he was at that moment thinking of his wife and
children. The ship had just paid off and gathered fresh way, when she
struck upon a sunken rock. A loud and piercing cry from the ship's
company was followed by an enormous sea striking the frigate on the
counter, at once heeling her over and forcing her ahead, so that she
slipped off from the rock again into deep water.

"She's off again, sir," said the master.

"It's God's mercy, Mr Pearce! Bring her to the wind as soon as you
can," replied the captain, with composure. But the carpenter now ran up
the hatchway, and, with a pallid face and hurried tone, declared that
the ship was filling fast, and could not be kept afloat more than a few
minutes.

"Going down!--going down!" was spread with dreadful rapidity throughout
the ship, and all discipline and subordination appeared to be at an end.

Some of the men flew to the boats hoisted up on the quarters, and were
casting loose the ropes which secured them, with hands that were
tremulous with anxiety and fear.

"Silence there, fore and aft!" roared the captain, in the full compass
of his powerful voice. "Every man to his station. Come out of those
boats directly."

All obeyed, except one man, who still continued to cast loose the
gripes.

"Come out, sir," repeated the captain.

"Not I, by God!" replied the sailor, coolly.

The boarding-pikes, which had been lashed round the spanker-boom, had
been detached, either from the shot of the enemy, or some other means,
and were lying on the deck, close to the cabin skylight. The captain
seizing one, and poising it brandished over his head, a third time
ordered the sailor to leave the boat.

"Every man for himself, and God for us all!" was the cool answer of the
refractory seaman.

The pike flew, and entered the man's bowels up to the hilt. The poor
wretch staggered, made a snatch at the davit, missed it, and fell
backwards over the gunwale of the boat into the sea.

"My lads," said Captain M---, emphatically addressing the men, who
beheld the scene with dismay, "as long as one plank, ay, one
_toothpick_, of this vessel swims, I command, and will be obeyed.
Quarter-master, put the helm up. I have but few words