whelming. The wild waves lifted the great hull of the
vessel and let it down on the rocks with another crash, sending the
masts over the side, while the passengers could only shriek in agony and
cling to the wreck. Fortunately, in taking the ground, the vessel had
kept straight, so that the forepart formed a comparative shelter from
the waves that were fast breaking up the stern.

In the midst of all this confusion the first mate and Mr Bright seemed
to keep quite cool. Between them they loaded and fired the bow
signal-guns several times, by which means they brought a few fishermen
and coastguard-men to the scene of disaster. And among these, as we
have seen, were our heroes, Philip Maylands and George Aspel.

On arriving, these two found that the rocket apparatus was being set up
on the beach.

"Phil," said Aspel in a quick low voice, "they'll want the lifeboat, and
the wind carries the sound of their guns in the wrong direction. Run
round, lad, and give the alarm. There's not a moment to lose."

The boy turned to run without a word of reply, but he could not help
observing, as he turned, the compressed lips, the expanding nostrils,
and the blazing eyes of his friend, who almost quivered with suppressed
excitement.

For some time George Aspel stood beside the men of the coastguard while
they set up their apparatus and fired the rocket. To offer assistance,
he knew, would only retard them. The first rocket was carried to the
right of the vessel, which was now clearly visible. The second went to
the other side. There was a reef of rocks on that side which lay a few
yards farther out from the beach than the wreck. Over this reef the
rocket-line fell and got entangled. Part of the shore-end of the
apparatus also broke down. While the men were quickly repairing it
Aspel said in a hurried manner:--"I'll clear the rocket-line," and away
he darted like a greyhound.

"Hold ha-a-rd! foolish fellow, you'll be drownded," roared one of the
men.

But Aspel heeded him not. Another minute and he was far away on the
ledge of rock jutting out from a high cape--the point of which formed
the outlying reef above referred to. He was soon at the extremity of
the ledge beyond which nearly a hundred yards of seething foam heaved
between him and the reef. In he plunged without a moment's halt. Going
with the rush of the waves through the channel he struck diagonally
across, and landed on the reef. Every billow swept ov