of her scuppers. The little brig seemed pressed down into
the ocean by the enormous weight of water, and as the wave rolled aft,
there, battling with the foam, was the form of the gallant mate. Swept
from his hold, the white face rose on the wave close to the brig, and
Isabel screamed with horror as the helpless man, tossed about, like a
cork and apparently not a yard from them, came surging along, the lips
parting, and the words, "Save me! save me!" distinctly borne on the
wind.

Quick as thought, Captain Weber caught up a coil of rope; his arm was in
the act of casting it, when the mass of spars and cordage swept past.
The coil whistled through the air, it fell right over the mate's
shoulder, he clutched at it as the fore-topmast crosstrees, with the
full force of the surge, struck him from behind, and he sank like a
stone.

A cry of terror ran through the brig, all for a moment forgetting their
own danger in the horror of the scene.

"Silence, fore and aft," shouted the old captain, his grey hairs
streaming in the wind. "Heave the brig to, Mr Lowe. This is no place
for you, lady; let the steward lead you below. All danger is over."

"Land ho!" shouted one of the men forward, as Isabel disappeared down
the hatchway.

"Where away?" asked the master.

"Broad on the port bow," was the answering shout.

"It is the high land of Cape Saint Vincent," said Captain Weber, shading
his eyes, and gazing intently in the direction named.

The wind was increasing in violence, and the barometer in the captain's
cabin still falling. The brig had been kept away, and was now running
free, but the gale was increasing rapidly.

"See that the fore and main-staysails are properly bent," called the
captain.

"Ay, ay, sir," came the ready response, as his officer stepped hastily
forward.

It is always a ticklish thing to heave a vessel to when there is a heavy
sea running. The brig's sails were reduced until she was stripped to
her close-reefed main-topsails, her fore-staysail was then set, and the
two officers exchanged places, the old captain sprang forward, and
holding on by the weather fore-shrouds, gazed wistfully over the ocean,
while his mate stood near the man-at-wheel, waiting the coming order.

Sea after sea struck her, dashing the glittering spray high into the
air, and wetting the veteran sailor to the skin, as he stood anxiously
gazing over the ocean. At length a moment came when the long waves
seemed less