THROUGH THE BREAKERS TO THE WRECK. 221 



before they would be sufficiently far to windward to make certain of fetching the wreck. The 

 tow rope had to be got on board again, and it was a bitter disappointment to all, that an hour 

 or more of their precious time must be consumed before they could possibly get to the rescue of 

 their endangered brother seamen. The snow-squalls increased, and they lost sight of the 

 wreck again and again. " The gale, which had been increasing since the morning, came on 

 heavier than ever, and roared like thunder overhead, the sea was running so furiously and 

 meeting the life-boat with such tremendous force that the men had to cling on their hardest 



o o 



not to be washed out of her, and at last the new tow rope could no longer resist the increasing 

 strain, and suddenly parted with a tremendous jerk ; there was no thought of picking up the 

 cable again they could stand no further delay, and one and all of her crew rejoiced to hear the 

 captain of the life-boat give orders to set sail." 



Straight for the breakers they made in the increasing gloom ; no faltering or hesitation, 

 brows knit, teeth clenched, hands ready, and hearts firm. The boat, carrying the smallest 

 amount of sail possible, was driven on by the hurricane force of the wind, till she plunged 

 through the outer range of the breakers into the battling, seething, boiling sea, that marked 

 the treacherous shallows. " When they saw some huge breaker heading towards them like 

 an advancing wall, then the men threw themselves breast down on the thwart, curled their 

 legs under it, clasped it with all their force with both arms, held their breath hard, and clung 

 on for very life against the tear and wrestle of the waves, while the rush of water poured 

 over their backs and heads, and buried them in its flood. Down, down, beneath the weight 

 of the water, the men and boat sank ; but only for a moment ; the splendid boat rose in her 

 buoyancy, and freed herself of the seas, which for a moment had overcome her and buried her, 

 and her crew breathed again ; and a struggling cry of triumph rises from them, * Well done, 

 old boat ! well done/ " 



A sudden break in the storm, and the wreck is revealed to them half a mile to leeward. 

 Her appearance made even these hardy men shudder. She had settled down by the stern, 

 her uplifted bow being the only part of the hull that was to be seen, and the sea was making 

 a clean breach over her. " The mainmast was gone, her foresail and foretopsail were blown 

 adrift, and great columns of foam were mounting up, flying over her foremast and bow. 

 They saw a Margate lugger lying at anchor just clear of the Sands, and made close to her. 

 As they shot by they could just make out, amid the roar of the storm, a loud hail, 'Eight 

 of our men on board I' and on they flew, and in a few minutes were in a sea that would 

 instantly have swamped the lugger, noble and powerful boat though she was. 



" Approaching the wreck, it was with terrible anxiety they strained their sight, trying 

 to discover if there were still any men left in the tangled mass of rigging, over which the 

 sea was breaking so furiously. By degrees they made them out. ' I see a man's head. 

 Look! one is waving his arm/ 'I make out two! three! why, the rigging is full of the 

 poor fellows ; ' and with a cheer of triumph, as being yet in time, the life-boat crew settled to 

 their work/' Four hours they had been battling the elements, while the shipwrecked crew had 

 waited eight hours despairingly, within a few miles of shore, shivering in the rigging. The 

 sails were lowered, and anchor cast overboard. " No cheering ! no shouting in the boat now, 

 no whisper beyond the necessary orders ; the risk and suspense are too terrible ! Yard by 

 yard the cable is cautiously paid out, and the great rolling seas are allowed to carry the 



