ng taken their departure, order and quiet was
restored to the camp. In case they might return, a watch, however, was
placed, that due notice might be given of the approach of the intruders.
Sailors have happily a knack of going to sleep at times when other men
would be kept awake, and in a few minutes all hands, with the exception
of the watch, were again wrapped in slumber. Harry had hoped to get a
good night's rest, to be enabled the better to go through the duties of
the next day. He had been asleep some time, when he was once more
aroused by hearing Paul Lizard's voice.

"It's coming on to blow very hard, sir; and from the way the sea is
breaking into the bay, I am afraid the boats, if we don't look after
them, will be knocked to pieces."

"Call Mr Bollard, and we will see about it," said Harry, springing to
his feet.

It was indeed blowing a regular hurricane, and it did credit to the
builders of the huts that they should have withstood its force. The
waves, crested with foam, came rolling in from across the harbour,
breaking with great violence against the rocks. The seamen, aroused
from their sleep, hurried out of their huts, encountering as they did so
thick showers of spray, which, driven by the wind, broke over them. The
first thing to be done was to haul up the cutter, which, dashed about by
the foaming seas, ran the risk at any moment of being knocked to pieces
on the rocks. So violently, however, did the waves break on the shore,
that the seamen could not without much difficulty get hold of her.

"Now, my lads," cried Bollard, "we will make a dash at the boat. A
strong pull, and a pull altogether, and we will have her in safety."

Inspired by his and Harry's example, the men succeeded in getting hold
of the boat, and as the next sea lifted her, they hauled her up on a
level part of the rock. The launch meantime was tossing about at her
anchor; the foam-topped seas now breaking on board her, now lifting her
up as if they would send her bodily on shore. The sailors watched her
anxiously; for should no vessel appear to take them off the island, she
would afford them the only means of escaping. The hurricane was
apparently not yet at its height. The wind howled and whistled louder
and louder through the woods, the sea, breaking in white masses along
the shore, every instant roared more fiercely; first one hut, and then
another was overthrown, and their materials scattered over the ground;
but t