not mad already.

He hurried to the quay, alongside which a boat, kept ready for
emergencies, was tossing up and down; she was not a life-boat, but still
one well fitted to encounter heavy seas, and was used to go off to
vessels which had got embayed or ran a risk of being driven on shore.

"I am ready to go off, if you want another hand," he exclaimed.

"You will do, and welcome. Our number is now made up," answered Uncle
Reuben, who was seated in the stern of the boat.

Eban leaped in.

"Whereabouts is the vessel in danger?" he asked. "I could not make her
out."

"She is my craft, the `Sea-Gull,'" said Uncle Reuben. "The `Favourite,'
which has just come in, saw her driving, with her mast gone, towards the
Gull Rock, and if she strikes it there is no chance for her or the poor
fellows on board. Lord be merciful to them! we must do our best to try
and save them, for no craft under sail will dare to stand near them, for
fear of sharing their fate."

Eban knew that Michael had gone away in the "Sea-Gull." Should he risk
his life to try and save that of his rival? He felt inclined to spring
on shore again. The next instant Uncle Reuben gave the order to get out
the oars.

Once actively engaged Eban no longer wished to quit the boat, but the
wild thought rose in his mind that Michael might be lost, and then, his
rival removed, that Nelly would become his.

In his selfishness he did not consider the grief she whom he professed
to love would suffer; he, at all events, would not have inflicted it.
He had not committed the crime he meditated, and yet might gain the
object of his wishes.

Nelly had been anxiously waiting the return of Dame Lanreath; she was
greatly agitated by Eban's visit--unable to overcome the fear that he
might do something desperate, but what that might be she could not tell.

She frequently went to the door to see if her granny was coming.

The night drew on, the fury of the storm increased. She thought of
Michael on the raging ocean engaged in hauling in his nets. The
"Sea-Gull" would surely not remain out long in such weather; the
fishing-vessels ought to be back by this time. She longed to run down
to the harbour's mouth to ascertain if they had returned; then her
granny might come in, and, finding her gone, not know what had become of
her. The thought, too, that she might meet Eban in his angry mood
restrained her.

"Oh, what is going to happen?" she exclaimed, feeling more a