lue form of the lifeboat was seen coming in like an angel of
light on the crests of the foaming seas.

We may not stay to describe what followed in detail. The lifeboat's
anchor was let go to windward of the wreck, and the cable paid out until
the boat forged under the vessel's lee, where it heaved on the boiling
foam so violently that it was difficult to prevent it being stove in,
and still more difficult to get the women and children passed on board.
Soon the lifeboat was full--as full as she could hold--and many
passengers yet remained to be rescued.

The officer in charge of the mail-bags had got them up under the shelter
of the companion-hatch ready to be put into the boat, but human life was
of more value than letters--ay, even than diamonds.

"Now, then, one other lady. Only room for one," roared the mate, who
stood with pistol in hand near the gangway.

Miss Gentle tried to get to the front, but Lady Tower stepped in before
her.

"Never mind, little woman," said Mr Bright, encouragingly, "the rocket
apparatus is still at work, and the wreck seems hard and fast on the
reef. You'll get off next trip."

"But I can't bear to think of going by that awful thing," said Miss
Gentle, shuddering and sheltering herself from the blinding spray under
the lee of Bright's large and powerful body.

"Well, then," he returned, cheerfully, "the lifeboat will soon return;
you'll go ashore with the mails."

Mr Bright was right about the speedy return of the lifeboat with her
gallant crew, who seemed to rejoice in danger as if in the presence of a
familiar friend, but he was wrong about the wreck being hard and fast.
The rising tide shifted her a little, and drove her a few feet farther
in. When the other women and children were got into the boat, Mr
Bright, who stood near the mail-bags looking anxiously at them, left his
position for a moment to assist Miss Gentle to the gangway. She had
just been safely lowered when a tremendous wave lifted the wreck and
hurled it so far over the reef that the fore part of the vessel was
submerged in a pool of deep water lying between it and the shore.

Mr Bright looked back and saw the hatchway disappearing. He made a
desperate bound towards it, but was met by the rush of the crew, who now
broke through the discipline that was no longer needed, and jumped
confusedly into the lifeboat on the sea, carrying Bright along with
them. On recovering his feet he saw the ship make a final p