rowd of
people was watching our movements with great interest, and the pocket
handkerchiefs again fluttered from the land. The signals, however, met
with no response from us. Tug as we would, we seemed to make very little
way, notwithstanding Hawkstone's "Well rowed, gentlemen, she's moving
fast. We shall do it yet."

The waves were now running high, white crested, and with a long, wide
sweep in them. We were forced to steer close to the rocks at the point
in order to keep as much as possible out of the tide, which was running
so strongly a few yards from the land that we never could have made any
way against it there. As it was I could see that for many seconds we did
not open a single point of rock, and it was all we could do to keep the
boat from dropping astern. Just as I was beginning to despair of ever
getting back in safety, and was aware that my wind was going, and that
both arms and legs were on the point of giving way, a loud shout from
Hawkstone alarmed us all. He jumped up, shouting, "Row hard on the bow
side, ease off on the stroke," and in a moment (how he got from the bows
I shall never know!) we saw him seated behind the stern-board with the
tiller in his hand. The boat shot round, shipping a heavy sea, and we
were at one moment within a yard of the rock underneath the parade. "Row
hard, all!" was soon the cry, and away we shot before wind and tide in
the opposite direction to that in which we had been going. Again we
heard Hawkstone's voice, "Steady, keep steady. There's nothing to fear.
We can run her into the bay!" Nothing to fear! But there had been. One
moment of delay, and we should have been dashed on the rocks. I do not
know why it was, but the waves now seemed gigantic. Perhaps excitement
or fear made them seem larger, or perhaps the change in the direction of
the course of the boat had that effect. Certainly they now seemed to
rear their white crests high above us, and to menace us with their huge
forms. The roar of the breakers upon the beach added to the excitement
of the scene. The ladies sat pale and silent. I believe all would have
gone well, but at the most exigent moment, when we were riding on the
surf which was to land us, "bow" and "three" missed their strokes and
fell into the bottom of the boat; and, amid great confusion, the boat
swerved round; and, a great wave striking her upon her broadside, she
upset, and rolled the whole party over and over into about three