ZEbe Storm's tlttumpb 133 



Then the rocket apparatus was brought out, and 

 the little snorting tug was seen rounding the head- 

 land, with the smoke from its funnel blowing shore- 

 ward in hard, horizontal lines. Just at that moment 

 we heard the bells of St. Mary's ring out in wild 

 cadence on the storm. Could the crew of the battling 

 ship have heard, one can conceive how they would 

 have welcomed those bells as messengers of hope, for 

 at that time the Fmn$ais was undoubtedly in danger. 



The tug reached her . . . ; the tugmen were ready 

 to heave a line on board ; but the Frenchman was 

 obdurate, and his crew stood motionless aft. We saw 

 the tug at great risk, however, stand to the southward 

 in close company with the barque. 



When the FranQais had got abreast of the Moor 

 Battery she had been blown in quite close to the 

 rocks. Heaven knows, her benumbed crew just then 

 must have needed every finger God had given them. 

 To starboard there was a leaping, rushing, roaring 

 fringe of snow-white breakers ; to port were towering, 

 curling, livid, froth-tipped seas, and the pouring gale. 

 Dead ahead was the cauldron which marked the 

 position of the submerged Heugh reef, running out 

 from the base of the lighthouse protection wall, at the 

 point of the headland. The Fran$ais had to cross this 

 reef, or to strike upon it and be pounded to match- 

 wood. 



I heard a low murmur of suspense pass through the 

 compact mass of spectators who leaned against the 

 wind and sleet on the shuddering cliff. Then every 

 tongue gave fearful pause. Even the Storm Fiend 

 itself seemed to stay its tumult, and the screaming 

 gulls their complainings. 



