3i8 THE HOME OP A NATURALIST. 



proximity, when, with close-reefed sails — Anderson's 

 boat leading — they bore up for the land. Suddenly, 

 when on the crest of a mighty wave, a fiercer blast 

 than usual struck the foremost boat; mast and sail 

 went by the board, and the next wave swept over her 

 with resistless fury. Ned saw it all. 



" Ready to lower away the sail, Jamie," he cried to 

 the second hand, who held the halyard ; " and you, lads, 

 stand by your oars." 



" It's useless, Ned," said Jamie ; " we can't save any 

 of them; and to stop in such a storm and sea is 

 madness." 



" For your life ! do as I tell you, all ; it may be 

 our turn to-morrow," said the intrepid and noble- 

 hearted young skipper sternly, and with a gleam in 

 his eye that meant he would be obeyed. In a moment 

 more they could see the swamped boat bottom up, with 

 one man, whom they readily recognised to be Osla's 

 father, holding on for dear life to the keel. Instantly, 

 Ned put down his helm, and his buoyant little skiff 

 luffed up and breasted the sea gallantly not more than 

 a hundred yards right to windward of the wreck. 



"Haul down, Jamie," shouted Ned. "And you, 

 lads, keep her head in the wind's eye. — Now, Jamie ! " 

 he added as soon as the sail was gathered in, "the 

 livers I Crop some livers. Quick, quick ! " 



His orders were promptly obeyed. Jamie's ready 

 knife ripped up several of the newly caught ling ; the 

 livers were torn out, crushed in his hand, and thrown 

 overboard on all sides ; and the great waves became 



