oop. Among the former were Dick and Ben.

"I thought things were getting very bad," said Ben. "They could not be
worse."

"What, then, do you think will happen?" asked Dick. "Why, we shall
either go down or be driven ashore. It matters little which, for if the
ship strikes there's little chance of any of us reaching the land, with
these seas breaking over her, and then sweeping everything before them.
I know what it is on our own coast. With such a hurricane as we have
got blowing, it will be ten times worse."

"Then is there no chance of saving our lives if we strike?" asked Dick.

"Our best chance is to get hold of a piece of wreck and hold fast to it.
You may be washed on shore, or you may be carried out to sea--it is six
of one and half a dozen of the other. You may depend upon it, there's a
watery grave for some of us before the night is over."

Dick felt his heart sink, but he remembered the prayers his mother had
taught him. He tried to pray for himself; he knew, too, that she would
be praying for him. His courage rose, he determined to struggle bravely
for life.

Ben advised that they should go forward and stick to the forecastle.
"That generally holds together the longest, and will give us a better
chance of life," he observed. "Don't let go until the ship breaks up,
and then you will have no choice, and must do as I before told you."

Dick replied that he would follow his advice, and they made their way to
the forecastle.

As may be supposed, it was only by speaking at the tops of their voices
that they could make each other heard. Their sentences, therefore, were
brief and to the point. In the mean time, Lord Reginald, with Voules
and Lucas, clung on to the mizzen rigging; near them were gathered the
few men who had come aft. Anxiously they looked to leeward, hoping
against hope that they might still be at a distance from land. The
stout ship was drifted on, the hapless people on board frequently being
covered by the seas which broke over her. At last Voules uttered an
exclamation of dismay.

"I caught sight of land close under our lee; before ten minutes are over
we shall be upon it," he cried out; "and Heaven have mercy on our
souls!"

"We must look out for a spot on which to run her, and if we lose her, we
may save our lives," said Lord Reginald.

But although the attempt was made, the ship would not answer her helm.
An anxious gaze was cast at the dark shore, on which the roar o