de of the
Gunfleet. Fancy she must have broke up, can't make her out now. Wish
ye good luck," was the reply.

"Thank'ee," roared back Bill. "Ease up main and jib-sheets, boys, and
stand clear for a jibe."

Round swept the little _Seamew_, and in another moment, with the wind on
her starboard quarter, she was darting almost with the speed of her
namesake, along the weather edge of the shoal, upon her errand of mercy.

All eyes were now keenly directed ahead and on the lee bow, anxiously
watching for some indication of the whereabouts of the wreck, and in a
few minutes the welcome cry was simultaneously raised by three or four
of the watchers, "There she is!"

"Ay, there she is; sure enough!" responded old Bill from his post at the
tiller, he having like the rest caught a momentary glimpse under the
foot of the main-sail of a shapeless object which had revealed itself
for a single instant in the midst of the whirl of boiling breakers, only
to be lost sight of again as the leaping waves hurled themselves once
more furiously down upon their helpless prey.

As the smack rapidly approached the scene of the disaster the wreck was
made out to be that of a large ship, with only the stump of her main-
mast standing. She was already fast settling down in the sand, the
forepart of the hull being completely submerged, while the sea swept
incessantly over the stern, which, with its full poop, formed the sole
refuge of the hapless crew.

"Now, boys," remarked old Bill when they had approached closely enough
to perceive the desperate situation of those on the wreck. "Now, boys,
whatever we're going to do has got to be done smart; the tide's rising
fast, and in another hour there won't be enough of yon ship left to
light a fire wi'. Are yer all ready wi' the anchor?"

"Ay, ay; all ready," was the prompt response.

The helm was put down, and the smack plunged round head to wind, her
sails flapping furiously as the wind was spilled out of them. There was
no need for orders; the men all knew exactly what to do, and did it
precisely at the right moment. Jib and main-sail were hauled down and
secured in less time than it takes to describe it; and then, as the
little vessel lost her "way," the heavy anchor--carried expressly for
occasions like the present--was let go, and the cable veered cautiously
out so that the full strain might not be brought to bear upon it too
suddenly. Old Bill, meanwhile, stood aft by the taffrail w