t the wind increasing still more, he saw that
the attempt was hopeless. The open ocean lay broad on his beam, foaming
and raging, and there was now the danger of his being blown out to sea.
The only spot where he could hope to land without losing the boat was
the little bay he had just before left. Keeping as close to the wind as
he could, he therefore stood towards the shore. Even with the reduced
canvas she carried, and all hands sitting up to windward, the boat
heeled over fearfully. Harry was at the helm, looking out anxiously
through the spray, which beat up in showers over the bows, for the point
which formed the northern side of the little bay into which he wished to
run. Sometimes the boat's head fell off, and he was afraid that he
should be unable to reach it.

"I don't like the look of things," whispered Peter to Willy; "what if we
don't reach the bay?"

"We may perhaps lose the boat," answered Willy, "but I trust that we may
be able to scramble on shore somewhere or other."

At length they got near enough to distinguish Bollard and his
companions, who had come down to the beach to assist them. A fiercer
blast than before struck the boat's sail; down she heeled, till the
hissing water ran over her gunwale. For a moment Harry feared she would
not recover herself. As he put down the helm she once more rose, and in
another minute was under the lee of the point; and he steered in towards
the only spot of sandy beach which the bay afforded. The sails were
hauled down, and all hands stood ready to leap out as she touched the
shore. Aided by the next sea which came rolling in, she was run high
upon the beach.

"This is indeed unfortunate," said Harry to the boatswain. "It is too
late to get back to-night, and I am afraid our friends at the settlement
will become anxious about us."

"But they will see it is blowing hard, sir, and that will fully account
for the boat not being able to get up the harbour," answered the
boatswain.

Perhaps Harry was thinking that the fierce gale then blowing would only
increase the anxiety which some, at all events, of the inhabitants of
the settlement would feel on his account.

By the time they reached the hut the day was well advanced. There was
still a short time of daylight, however, and the men employed it in
cutting a further supply of fuel, that they might keep up a good fire
during the night. A stream had been found at the bottom of the hill,
from which the