been over to help us. They must have seen the fires."

"No," I said, "I don't suppose they would. See how deep down in the
valley the cottages are."

It was quite dark where we were sitting, but there appeared to be a pale
light on the sea which enabled us to make out all that was going on
below; and we watched the boats fill, and one by one push off, the
wounded men being divided between the four. It was plain enough, and it
made me shudder when some poor fellow was lifted moaning in by his
comrades, who did not seem to be any too tender in their ways.

At last all were on board, and the word was given to start. There was a
loud plashing as the oars dropped into the water, and we saw one boat
lead off, and then a second follow, then the third and the fourth in
single file, and making haste to join the big vessel, upon which signal
lights were burning.

"Why, they don't know the way," I exclaimed, as I saw them bear off at
once to the eastward instead of following right out the meandering
channel of the little river.

"Don't know the way?" cried our foreman; "why, it's plain enough.
They're at sea."

"They're over a lot of dangerous rocks," I said excitedly; "and if there
don't happen to be water enough they'll come upon the Goat and Kids, and
perhaps be upset."

"No fear," said the foreman; "they'll know better than that."

They were now about four hundred yards from the shore, and fading away
into the darkness, heading for the lights of the French ship, and far to
the east now of the course of the river, where it ran down through the
sand and shingle--a course the lugger always followed when going out or
coming in. But all seemed to be well with the boats, the regular beat
of whose oars we could hear though they were quite out of sight, when
all at once there came out of the darkness a tremendous yell, and we all
started to our feet in alarm.

We could see nothing, but as we listened to the cries for help, and the
shouting and splashing of the water, it was evident that an accident had
occurred, and it needed very little imagination to picture the men of an
overset boat struggling in the water, and being helped into the others.

"There's one of them capsized on the Goat Rock," I said excitedly.

"Think so, my lad?" said our foreman hoarsely.

"I'm sure of it," I cried. "Oh! If the day would break and we could
only see."

As if in response to my wish there was a faint gleam out in the darkness
ju