178 Studies in Rat Catching, [ch. x. 



evidently find there is nothing further that 

 can be done ; the boat is put before the 

 waves and comes dashing back towards land. 

 " All on the Point hurried down to the 

 entrance of the harbour ; and many of the 

 men, with coils of rope in their hands, stood 

 ready to give assistance. As each wave 

 rolled under the boat, it flew through the 

 water, and then sank back again hidden 

 from our sight; but nearer and nearer it 

 came on, till at last on the crest of a wave it 

 darted sharp round the Point, and lay tossing 

 in comparatively calm water. Steadily its 

 crew rowed it up the little harbour, and as it 

 approached the beach scores of ready hands 

 seized it and ran it high up on to dry land, and 

 a cheer rang out above the roar of the wind 

 to welcome those snatched from the jaws of 

 death. But this was not responded to by 

 the men in the boat. They all looked stern 

 and anxious ; and then we saw that Jack, 



