he men were too anxious watching the boat to care about the matter.
Another and another foaming sea came rolling onwards. It was evident
that they would either swamp the boat or drive her from her anchor.

"The cable has parted," cried several voices. The boat rose to the top
of a sea, and then came hurrying on towards the shore. All felt that
there was but little hope of saving her. Notwithstanding this, they ran
to the point towards which she was driving. Before they could reach it,
she was thrown with tremendous violence against the rocks, rebounding a
short distance, to be driven back again with greater force than before.
The crashing of her planks and timbers could be heard as she was driven
again and again against the pointed rocks. Those who endeavoured to
reach her ran a great risk of being crushed or swept off by the receding
sea. Harry, fearing for their lives, ordered them to desist, having a
faint hope that she might be thrown high up on the rocks before her
total destruction had been accomplished. He hoped in vain, for she
continued beating with increasing violence against the rocks, till every
timber and plank on one side were stove in, and in a few minutes, being
driven again and again on the rocks, scarcely two of her planks remained
hanging together, the fragments strewing the beach in all directions.
With a heavy heart at the serious accident that had occurred, Harry
returned to his hut, which, having been built more strongly than the
rest, had hitherto escaped destruction. The ladies' tent had also
withstood the gale; but how long it would continue to do so it was
difficult to say. The seamen, in no way disconcerted by the disaster,
were laughing and cutting jokes with each other as they endeavoured to
rebuild their huts in the dark; but scarcely had they tried to fix the
boughs in a proper position than another gust would again scatter the
whole structure far and wide. The sea, too, was making its way higher
and higher up the beach, sending deluges of spray over the spot where
the huts had stood, and reaching occasionally up to the tent. As may be
supposed, no one in the camp got more sleep that night.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

FORAGING.

CONSEQUENCE OF LOSS OF LAUNCH--MRS MORLEY'S RESIGNATION--PREPARE TO
WINTER ON THE ISLAND--HOUSE-BUILDING COMMENCED--THE LADIES' COTTAGE
COMPLETED--MORE HUTS ERECTED--BIRDS SEEK SHELTER IN THE COTTAGE--THE
YOUNG LADIES' AVIARY--INDUSTRY OF THE SETTLERS--