pulled back to the
frigate.

"I am very glad you are here, Lord Kilfinnan," said one of them, "and I
hope Lady Nora has not been very much frightened. It has been terrible
work though, and I am afraid the old bark will not swim much longer."

"Give way, my lads, give way," shouted Denham to his crew; "we must be
back before the ship sinks, or I am afraid many a fine fellow will lose
his life."

The men rowed as hard as they could, and in a short time they again
reached the frigate. No time was lost in handing up those on board.

"Whom have we here?" asked Captain Falkner.

"Lord Kilfinnan, and his daughter, and niece," answered Denham, "and
several other ladies and midshipmen. But we must be back to the ship,
for they expect every moment that she will go down."

"Mr Evans," said Captain Falkner, "we must get out the launch and
pinnace; the sea is calm enough now to allow us to do so."

While the rest of the boats already in the water, having put those they
carried on board the frigate, pulled back to the line-of-battle ship,
the larger boats were cleared and hoisted out, though not without the
risk of being stove alongside. The smaller boats had already made a
couple of trips before they were ready to shove off for the ship. At
length away they pulled, but as they reached the side of the ship the
cry arose, "She is sinking--she is sinking." Numbers of the brave
fellows who had hitherto preserved their discipline now threw themselves
headlong into the boats. The marines still remained drawn up on deck,
where they had been posted to preserve order. Already all the boats
were full almost to sinking, and with their living freight they
proceeded slowly back to the frigate; she, meantime, had been drawing
nearer and nearer the ship. Still the vast fabric floated above the
waves; many yet remained on board. The gallant marines stood as if on
parade; the officers who had refused to quit the ship clustered on the
quarter-deck. Who could have believed that all knew that in not many
moments the planks on which they stood would be engulfed by the waves,
yet so it was; British discipline triumphed above the fear of death.

With frantic haste the men in the boats sprang up the side of the
frigate, in order that they might speedily return to the ship. Already
they were half way between the two vessels when the line-of-battle ship
lifted high her bows above the water, then down she plunged, still with
many human b