00(5 THE SEA. 



the cable, and, each time the vessel lifted, heaved with a will the steamer, with a 

 hundred and twenty fathoms of nine-inch cable out, towing- hard all the time. By these; 

 means they expected to be able gradually to work the vessel off the Sands. But 

 they soon lost hope of doing this. The gale freshened about one o'clock in the morning; 

 the heavy waves rolled in over the sands, and she lifted and fell with shocks that 

 made the masts tremble and the decks gape open. The life-boat remained alongside, 

 afloat in the basin that the brig had worked in the sands, and it took all the efforts of 

 the men on board to prevent her getting under the side of the vessel, and being 

 crushed. The Portuguese captain still refused to desert his vessel, while the boatmen, 

 who knew the danger, were almost ready to force the crew to leave the ship. 



Suddenly a loud sharp crack, like a crash of thunder, pealed through the ship. One 

 of her large timbers had snapped like a pipe-stem, and now the Portuguese sailors were 

 only too anxious to leave. Even then, however, they made a rush to get their things, 

 and soon eight sea-chests hampered the life-boat. The captain did not like to refuse 

 the poor fellows, although every moment was of consequence. The surf flew over the 

 brig, and boiled up all around her; the life-boat, deluged with spray, had all her lights 

 washed out. The snapping and rending of the brig's timbers was heard over the fury of 

 the storm ; she was breaking up fast. The boy was handed to the boat, the sailors fol- 

 lowing, and the brig was abandoned. But the danger was far from over. 



The steamer and the luggers, exposed to the full fury of the increasing gale, were 

 outside, the former head to wind, steaming half-power. The steamer endeavoured to keep in 

 the neighbourhood of the wreck and of the life-boat. One of the lug-gers had to cut 

 her cable, without attempting to save her anchor, and make with all speed for Ramsgate ; 

 the second sprung her mast, which was flshed with great difficulty, and she too made the 

 best of her way for the harbour. The crew of the steamer could see nothing of the boat 

 Was she swamped or stove, and all lost ? They made signals, but to no purpose ; and 

 the Aid cruised up and down the edge of the dangerous sands as near as might be, 

 hoping against hope. The night was pitchy dark, and the storm remained at its worst. 

 Through the thick darkness the bright light of the Goodwin light-vessel shone out like 

 a star. With a faint hope, the crew of the steamer wrestled their way through the 

 storm, and spoke the light-ship. Nothing had been seen of the life-boat. They hastened 

 to their old cruisiug-ground. How they longed for the light ! All hands were still on 

 watch, and as the faint grey light of dawning came, they sought with straining eyeballs 

 to penetrate the twilight, and find some sign of their lost comrades. It was almost 

 broad daylight before they could find the place where the wreck was lying, and when 

 they discovered it, lost all hope, for the brig was found completely broken up, actually 

 torn to pieces. They could see great masses of splintered timber and tangled rigging, 

 but not a sign of life. Sadly they turned from the fatal Goodwin, and made for the 

 harbour. 



To return to the life-boat, afloat within the circle of the bed worked by the brig 

 in her wild careering. She could not by any possibility leave, though the wreck threatened 

 to roll over her every moment, for outside were the shallow sands, and she was grounding 

 every few moments. " Crash ! the brig heaves, and crushes down upon her bilge ; again and 



