e the speed of the steamer.

"What is it, cap.?" asked John.

"The bell on the Runnel Stone," he replied. "Cannot you hear it?"

The captain's statuesque figure, intently listening, had been observed
by the passengers, and there was a dead silence aboard, broken only by
the thumping of the engines and the splash of the paddle-blades as they
pounded the still waters. Presently the dreary clang of the bell,
struck by the clapper as the sea rocked it, came to us in uncertain and
fitful tones. It was a melancholy sound, but its effect was cheering,
because it gave the people some idea of our whereabouts, and was an
indication that we had crossed the intervening space between the islands
and the mainland. We were making fair progress despite the fog, and
should soon be ashore again.

A babble of talk began and ran the round of the passengers, breaking out
among a group of younger people into a ripple of laughter. For a quarter
of an hour this went on, then, to the amazement of all on board, the
captain, after glancing anxiously at the compass-card, sternly called
out "Silence!" Meanwhile the sound of the bell had become clearer, but
was now growing less distinct; and, as the captain's order was instantly
obeyed, we became aware of another sound--the breaking of the waves upon
the shore.

For a moment the captain listened, straining his eyes at the same time
to pierce the dense mist ahead; the man on the look-out, perched in the
bows, who had been leaning forward with his hand shading his eyes,
turned about with a startled gesture, throwing his arms aloft, and
shouted to the captain that we were close in shore, and heading for it
directly; the captain sprang to the indicator, and signalled for the
reversal of the engines; but it was too late. With a thud that threw us
all forward the steamer grounded.

Instantly all was confusion. Some lost their heads, and began to rush
about wildly. A few screamed. Nearly every one became visibly paler. Syd
and I started from our seats, and gazed bewilderedly at an expanse of
yellow sand softly revealed beneath the mist, and stretching ahead and
on either hand into the white moisture by which we were encompassed.
John walked over to us apparently unmoved.

"Well, this is a go," said he.

Before we could reply, the captain bawled out his orders that all the
passengers must retire to the after-part of the ship, and help, so far
as their collected weight might do so, to raise the bows