for she will strike on yonder dark reef, and soon be a
shattered wreck, to which no human being could cling and live. See how
fiercely the seas roll in, and dash furiously over it! See, see how the
brave frigate is drifting faster and faster towards the land! When I
first saw her this morning she was a good two leagues away, and now
there is not a quarter of a league between her and that rocky point. If
once she strikes upon it, few of her sturdy crew will ever come ashore
alive. Few, do I say? none, none can live amid those breakers. Oh,
Heaven protect them!"

In spite of the strong gale which blew round them, neither the ladies
nor Mr Finlayson could tear themselves from the spot where they stood,
it being the best situation they could reach for watching the progress
of the labouring frigate.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

We must for a time follow the fortunes of Charles Denham. Those were
days of rapid promotion, when an officer's name stood well at the
Admiralty. The young commander had not long served his time on board
the corvette before he received his post rank. Scarcely twelve years
had passed since he first stepped on board a man-of-war as a young
seaman before the mast, when he found himself in command of a fine
frigate of thirty-six guns--the _Isabel_. Ned Davis, who had followed
him into every ship in which he served, now, by his advice, having
applied for a warrant, was appointed boatswain to the _Isabel_.
Although Denham had attained what might be considered the height of his
ambition, he hoped, while in command of the frigate, to make a still
higher name for himself. Opportunities of doing so were not likely to
be wanting. England had enemies in all directions, and there was every
probability that a fine dashing frigate like the _Isabel_ would soon
meet with a foe well worthy of her. She was, however, much to the
disappointment of her commander and crew, sent to the Mediterranean,
which, by that time, had been pretty well cleared of all England's
enemies. There was work, however, to be done, and whatever Denham was
ordered to do he performed it well. Having, at length, come home with
despatches, he was sent to the West Indies, where he had already seen a
good deal of service.

During this time he had few opportunities of hearing from the Earl of
Kilfinnan, to whom, however, he occasionally wrote, and got a kind
answer in return. Again, after nearly four years' service, he was on
his way