over the surf; and when
all was ready the women, who were of course to go first, found their
courage fail them. In vain were they remonstrated with; in vain were
they reminded that every second as it flew bore mayhap a human life into
eternity with it; the sight of the wild surf into which the hawser
momentarily plunged completely unnerved them, and they one and all
declared that, rather than face the terrible risk, they would die where
they were.

At last Bob, who knew as well as, if not better than, anyone on board
the importance of celerity, whispered a word or two in the captain's
ear. The latter nodded approvingly; and Bob at once got into the
"chair," some of the ship's crew rapidly but securely lashing him there,
in obedience to their captain's order. When all was ready the skipper,
approaching the terrified group of women, took one of their children
tenderly in his arms, and, before the unhappy mother could realise what
was about to take place, handed it to Bob.

The signal was instantly given to those on board the smack, who hauled
swiftly upon the hauling-line; Bob went swaying off the gunwale, with
his precious charge encircled safely in his arms, and in another moment
was buried in a mountain of broken water which rushed foaming past.
Only to reappear instantly afterwards, however; and in a very brief
space of time he and his charge had safely reached the smack. The
little one was handed over to the rough but tender-hearted fishermen;
but Bob, seeing that he could be useful there, at once returned to the
wreck.

There was now no further difficulty with the women. The mother whose
child had already made the adventurous passage was frantic to rejoin her
baby, and eagerly placed herself in the chair as soon as Bob vacated it.
She, too, accomplished the journey in safety; and then the others,
taking courage once more from her example, quietly took their turn, some
carrying their children with them, while others preferred to confide
their darlings to Bob, or to one of the seamen, for the dreadful passage
through the wintry sea.

The women once safe, the men made short work of it; and in little over
two hours twenty-five souls--the survivors of a company of passengers
and crew numbering in all forty-two--were safely transferred to the
_Seamew_, which, slipping her cable, at once bore away with her precious
freight for Brightlingsea.

CHAPTER TWO.

THE "BETSY JANE."

Once fairly out of the breake