ould get a glass or two of grog. It would
make one feel more comfortable like."

"We can do without grog, surely," said Dick. "It strikes me that we
ought to try and keep our senses wide awake, so that we can judge of
what's best to be done. I for one shall struggle to the last, and hope
to reach the beach in spite of the surf, either on a spar or a piece of
wreck."

"We arn't wrecked yet; maybe we shall be able to run into some cove or
other where we can bring up."

"Not unless we had a pilot on board who knows the coast. From what I
hear, none of the officers have ever been in these seas before, and we
have little chance of dropping anchor in a safe harbour."

The gale came down with increased fury. "Hold on, lads, for your
lives!" cried Ben, who had cast one anxious look to leeward. "Keep
clear of the falling masts, for before a minute is over we shall be on
shore!"

Scarcely had he spoken than there came a fearful crash. The masts went
by the board. The sea, with thundering roars, broke over the doomed
ship. Crash succeeded crash. The shrieks of those carried away could
be heard every moment. Dick kept to his resolution of clinging tightly
to a stanchion. Presently came the final crash, when the _Marie_ parted
amidships, and those forward found themselves separated from their
companions. The sea twisted the bow round and floated it away, but it
still held together. "We shall be carried off from the land!" cried Ben
Rudall. "We had better try to get hold of some spars and float ashore."

"I thought you advised us to cling to the ship as long as she held
together," observed Dick.

"But she's not holding together," answered Ben. "To my mind, she'll
either go down in deep water, or go to pieces when we are too far off to
reach the shore."

Still Dick had made up his mind to stick to the ship.

"Well, mates, who's for the shore?" cried Ben.

"Only those who are tired of life!" said the old seaman; "the wise ones
will stick to the wreck. The chances are that will be cast on the
beach, where we shall have a better chance of landing."

Ben, however, still adhered to the belief that they would have a better
prospect of saving their lives by clinging to some of the floating mass
than by holding on to the forecastle, over which the sea was continually
washing.

Several, while doubting what to do, were swept from their hold, and had
no choice given them. Ben, with three others, got hold of some