us. Now, lads, give way. Dicey and Patch, you must keep the
bailers going, for we shall ship some seas, and must be prepared. We
will first get to windward, and step the mast, and then run merrily up."

The ship was now standing almost across the sound, making directly for
the mouth of the inner harbour. As she drew nearer, the gush of water
from her sides, evidently forced out by pumps at work, showed her
distressed condition, and the reason which had induced her commander to
seek a haven instead of keeping the open sea. The boat had just got
from under the shelter of the reef, when the wind again shifted several
points to the westward, and blew with greater violence than before. The
crew tugged bravely at their oars; but all their efforts could scarcely
send the boat ahead in the teeth of the gale. The ship, heeling over,
made her way across the sound. The mouth of the harbour was almost
reached, when with redoubled violence the wind struck her. Down she
heeled, and all her masts in one instant falling over her side, she lay
a helpless wreck upon the water, driving rapidly towards the reef. So
close was she already that Harry could see the people running along her
decks. An anchor was let go, but even when the whole cable had run out,
so great was the depth of water that it did not hold. Another anchor
followed. Still the ship drove onwards.

Harry, forgetting his previous caution, urged his men to pull out, in
the hopes of getting alongside before she struck, and saving, if
possible, some of the females who might be on board. There was but
little time to do so, however, for she was already within three cables'
lengths of the rocks.

"She holds! she holds!" cried Willy. The last anchor had brought her
up. "Whatever becomes of the ship, lads, the people may be saved."

It was now seen that the only boat had been stove in when the masts were
carried away.

"The lives of those on board may depend on our exertions, lads," cried
Harry, when he discovered this. The crew thus encouraged and incited,
used every effort to reach the sorely battered vessel. Several persons
were seen collected on the poop, eagerly watching their approach. It
was too probable that the anchor would not long hold, and when, driven
on the reef, her destruction would be inevitable.

At length the boat succeeded in getting under the ship's quarter. "Let
no one attempt to get into the boat till the women are cared for," cried