248 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



excitement about it all which made it not absolutely unpleasant, 

 as long as the sky remained clear and they could see the stars, 

 which seemed to laugh at their puny battle with the elements. 

 But by and by the stars began to disappear in the direction of 

 the wind, and finally were blotted out over the whole heavens 

 by a huge pall of cloud, and the darkness became awfully 

 oppressive. The wind dropped, and its roar subsided into a 

 low moaning sound. They felt the cold intensely as the snow 

 came down quickly and silently, covering them with a white 

 coating. A black cormorant suddenly appeared hovering over 

 them, to be driven away with the paddle, and they could hear 

 the swoop of gulls about them. 



" We are not quite food for the birds yet ; but I can't stand 

 this much longer," said Jimmy, his teeth chattering with the 

 cold. 



" Hold up, old man. The tide will turn in half an hour." 



There was the sound of a sudden snap. The rope had 

 parted, and a receding wave bore them away, leaving a rapidly 

 widening distance between them and the buoy. 



" Keep her head to the waves," said Frank, " or we shall be 

 upset." 



At this critical moment the sky cleared in one patch, and 

 against it they saw the outlines of the dark, square sails of a 

 schooner. The boys hailed her long and loud, and in answer 

 came the hoarse cry, " Where away?" 



" Here, on your weather bow. Fling us a rope ! " 



In a few minutes they and their punt were safe on board, 

 and in another hour they were in an hotel at Yarmouth, dressed 

 in borrowed suits of clothes, and enjoying a hot supper. 



After this, and when their own clothes were dried by the 

 kitchen fire, they walked back to the Berney Arms by road, 

 reached the yacht about three o'clock in the morning, to the 

 great relief of Dick, who had been very anxious at their pro- 

 tracted absence. 



The next day they sailed down to Yarmouth in the Swan, 

 picked up the punt, and went up the Bure with sheets eased 

 out and a following wind. 



