sea, and then turning as often, and heading toward the
coast on which they sat.

"It's plain that she's trying to make this island," said Jem.

"Yes, sir. She'll go to pieces if she tries it," answered Lloyd, taking
off his cap and putting it on again, emphatically. "Yes, sir; she'll go
to pieces."

"If there was anybody aboard that knew of Cook's Crack!"

"How could anybody aboard _that_ schooner know of Cook's Crack?" said
Lloyd, contemptuously.

"That's so. How could they? Sure enough."

Then the boys blew on their fingers to keep them warm, and hustled in
closer under the rocks, clasping their hands about their knees.

Now, to make you town boys understand, I must tell you that the
schooners in summer landed at the village, which was a couple of miles
from the point where the boys were. The shore off from where they sat
was full of hidden rocks and sand bars running out under the froth and
swirl of the waves, against which no ship could run without having her
bottom ripped up.

But through these rocks there was one narrow opening, through which the
sea ran clear and deep, making a safe channel to the shore. This was
Cook's Crack. Very few of the fishermen knew of it. It was not likely,
therefore, that anybody on board of the schooner would be able to pilot
her through it.

"She's bound to run ashore," said Jem. "What'll we do, Lloyd?"

All the boys asked Lloyd what to do whenever there was any trouble. He
did not answer at once, being busy considering.

"Go down to the village, Jem, and let some of the men go out with a
boat to them!"

"That will be too late to do any good. It will be dark before I reach
the village, and there's no moon. Nobody could go out after night in
that sea. Besides, she's putting in so fast, she'll be on the rocks in
half an hour."

"Do you go to the village, Jem!" said Lloyd, quietly. He was in
dreadful doubt himself as to whether he was right. But a captain, he
knew, never should let his crew see that he was in doubt; and Lloyd
knew he must be captain in this case. Jem had legs to run and a tongue
to give a message, but he had no head to plan or execute.

"All right!" said Jem, good-naturedly. "I'm off."

When he was gone on the full run, Lloyd stood thinking. There were no
men nearer than the village. Whatever he did, he must do alone. He was
tired of acting a man's part and doing a man's work, though the other
boys often envied him. His head and bones ached most of the