ne to look after the `Sea-Gull,' which they say
has lost her mast, and was seen driving on the Gull Rock; there is
little hope of any of the poor lads escaping aboard her."

"What is that you say," shrieked poor Nelly; "the `Sea-Gull' driving on
shore?"

"I forgot, Mistress Nelly, that Michael Penguyne was aboard her,"
answered the thoughtless boy. "I would not have said it to frighten you
so, but it may be father and the others will find them if they are not
all drowned before they get there."

"O granny, I was afraid something dreadful was happening," exclaimed
Nelly, gasping for breath. "I must go down to the harbour's mouth. I
do not mind the wind and rain; don't stop me, granny," for Dame Lanreath
had taken Nelly's arm, thinking she was about to fall, she trembled so
violently. "Let me go, granny, that I may hold him in my arms, and warm
him, and breathe into his mouth when he is brought on shore. Oh, I
shall die if I stay at home, and he out struggling maybe for life in the
cold foaming seas."

"But the lads may be mistaken, dear Nelly," urged Dame Lanreath; "it may
not be the `Sea-Gull' that has met with the damage, and if she has
Michael and the rest, who are stout lads and know how to handle her,
they may manage to keep her off the rocks, and get in safe
notwithstanding."

Nelly, however, was not to be reasoned with. She knew the way to the
harbour's mouth in the darkest night as well as by daylight; the rain
and wind were nothing to her, and if Michael had got safe on shore her
anxiety would the sooner be set at rest, and she should be ready to
welcome him.

The dame, finding that she could not persuade Nelly to remain at home,
insisted on accompanying her, for though she had tried to make her
believe that Michael would return in safety, she herself could not help
entertaining the fear that he had shared the fate of the many she had
known in her time who had lost their lives on the treacherous ocean.

Nelly was not selfish, and though she felt that she must go forth, she
was anxious that her granny should not again face the cruel storm. The
dame, however, was determined to go, for she felt scarcely less anxiety
than Nelly.

"Well, Nelly," she said at length, "if you won't let me go with you, I
will just go by myself, and you must stay at home till I come back and
tell you that Michael has got on shore all safe."

Nelly yielded. She and the dame set off.

They had a fierce battle to fight w