THE DENSCHMAN'S HAD. 157 



their vessel to harbour among those crags, where the 

 sea was in such a turmoil ? Was the Erne a demon- 

 ship that could dare everything and perform such a 

 feat ? On she came right before the wind with a follow- 

 ing tide ; but when well in the "Westing Bicht, some 

 experienced seamen affirmed that there must be some- 

 thing wrong aboard, for the Urne did not rise on the 

 waves with her usual buoyancy ; she seemed to plunge 

 madly forward, as if in fierce conflict with the ocean 

 she had ruled so long. By-and-by it was seen that the 

 vessel laboured more and more, yet carried full sail, as 

 if on speed depended salvation. 



"I would not say but she's sprung a leak, or the 

 like," said an old udaller among the on-lookers. 

 "Who but a madman would bring a ship in- shore like 

 yon, if all was taut aboard ! " 



" That is so," remarked a seaman. " Without doubt, 

 he's in straits ; and he's going to try to beach the 

 Urne on the Aire of Widwick. It's his only chance, 

 and a poor one." 



"Pray the powers he may not make the Aire," 

 replied the old man : " and I'm thinking," he added, 

 "that the powers will hear us. There is something 

 fatally amiss with that evil one. See yon ! She's not 

 obeying her helm ; she's just driving with wind and 

 tide. She's in a mighty strait, praise the Lord ! " 



" If she misses the Aire, she'll go in shallmillens [the 

 fragments of eggshell] upon the baas of Fllibersgerdie," 

 said a fisherman, with a grim smile ; and all cried out, 

 " Pray the powers it may be so ! " 



