the conversation, she could
at all events listen, and might be benefited.

In passing through the station, the officer on duty called to him.

"I want you, Benson, to take Wilson's place to-night. He is unwell and
off duty. We may possibly require all our force, for the barometer has
suddenly fallen much lower than usual."

No shade of disappointment betrayed itself on the grave countenance of
the well-disciplined Jeff as he replied, "Very well, sir," and went out;
but profound disappointment nevertheless harrowed his broad bosom, for
he had promised himself such a long and pleasant evening of discussion;
possibly of benefit to the young girl for whom he cared nothing now--a
mere passing fancy, pooh! But even while ejecting the "pooh!" he
wondered why the disappointment was so severe. Was it possible that he
was being taught by experience the lesson which Miss Millet's reasoning
powers had failed to inculcate?

It was blowing hard when Jeff reached the cliffs, and, bending forward
to the increasing blast made his way to the rugged coast which was to be
the scene of his night vigil. As he stood on the shore with hands in
pockets and legs apart, to steady himself, and gazed out upon the
darkening sea, he saw plainly enough that the prophetic barometer was
right. Far out on the water a ledge of rocks, barely covered at high
water, caught the billows as they rolled shoreward, broke them up, and
sent them spouting into the air in volumes of foam. On the horizon the
clouds were so black that the shrieking sea-birds passed athwart them
like flakes of snow. Low muttering thunder was heard at intervals; and
as night drew on, gleams of lightning flashed in the obscurity.

During one of these flashes Jeff thought he saw a vessel labouring
heavily. He could not be quite sure, for by that time spray, borne on
the whistling wind, was blinding him. Suddenly a red flash was seen,
followed by a report. It was a signal of distress.

Every thought and feeling save that of duty was instantly banished from
the mind of our coastguardsman, as he hurried away to give the alarm and
join in the rescue.

CHAPTER FOUR.

A WRECK AND RESCUE.

Terrible was the gale which burst that night upon the shores of old
England, and awful the fate that awaited many of the vessels which were
nearing port at the time. Better far for many of them had they met the
foe in the open field of what seamen term blue water, for no place is so
d