Crested seas broke over her bows and swept her deck. She was
smothered in white water half the time. The wind was rising, too. It
was to be a big gale from the southeast. It was already half a gale.
There was wind enough for the _Spot Cash_. Much more would shake and
drown her like a chip. Bill o' Burnt Bay, at the wheel, and the crew,
forward and amidships, kept watch for the coast and the friendly
landmarks of harbour. But what with wind and fog and rain it was a
disheartening business.

When night gathered, the coast was not in sight. The _Spot Cash_ was
tossing somewhere offshore in a rising gale and dared not venture in.
The wind continued in the southeast. The coast was a lee shore--all
rocks and islands and cliffs. The _Spot Cash_ must beat out again to
sea and wait for the morning. Any attempt to make a harbour of that
harsh shore in the dark would spell destruction. But the sea was
hardly more hospitable. The _Spot Cash_, reefed down almost to bare
poles, and standing out as best she could, tossed and plunged in the
big black seas, with good heart, to be sure, but, presently, with
small hope. It seemed to Bill o' Burnt Bay that the little craft would
be broken and swamped.

The boys came aft from forward and amidships. All at once Archie, who
had been staring into the night ahead, started, turned and uttered an
ejaculation of dismay, which a gust of wind drove into the skipper's
ear.

"What is it, b'y?" Skipper Bill roared.

"I forgot to insure her," shouted Archie.

Skipper Bill grinned.

"It's ruin if we wreck, Bill," Archie shouted again.

It looked to Bill o' Burnt Bay like wreck and death. If so, the ruin
might take care of itself. It pleased him to know that Archie was
still unconcerned about his life. He reflected that if the _Spot Cash_
should by any chance survive he would tell Sir Archibald that story.
But a great sea and a smothering blast of wind distracted him. The sea
came clear over the bow and broke amidships; the wind fairly drove the
breath back into the skipper's throat. There would be two more seas he
knew: there were always three seas. The second would break in a
moment; the third would swamp the schooner. He roared a warning to the
boys and turned the wheel to meet the sea bow on. The big wave fell
with a crash amidships; the schooner stopped and shivered while a
torrent of water drove clear over the stern. Bill o' Burnt Bay saw the
crest of the third sea grow white and tower in