g our voyage in the
boat, but I hope that we may not be exposed to such a gale as is now
raging. As far as I can judge from the look of things, the present gale
is as heavy as any we are likely to encounter."

They sat watching the surf as it rolled up over the smooth sand. Nearer
and nearer it came. The mate had ascertained that there was a secure
retreat to the high ground, or he would not have ventured to remain so
long. He held Alice securely in his arms, as, should the surf come
higher up than before,--not unfrequently the case during a storm,--she
would be safe from the risk of being swept away, or from the lesser
danger of being wetted through. Alice had witnessed two or three
thunderstorms at sea, but this surpassed them all. Crash succeeded
crash with fearful rapidity. The lightning often showed objects around
as clearly as at noonday, and the next moment all was inky darkness.
But few words were exchanged among the party, for who could speak at
such a fearful time?

"De sea come nearer still, Massa Shobbrok," said Nub at length, as he
darted forward a few paces to ascertain how far the surf had reached.

"Shove in your stick, Nub; and if the water comes a foot beyond it, we
must lift our anchor and risk the falling trees," said the mate.

Nub did as he was bid, and then springing back, crouched down again
under the rock, with his eyes intently fixed on the stick. Sea after
sea came roaring up, but the surf did not get so far as the stick.
Another came with a roar very much louder than its predecessors, and
Alice felt the mate half rise with her in his arms, while the doctor
seized Walter's hand. On came the surf with a roaring hiss, high enough
apparently to sweep a strong man off his legs; but it barely reached the
stick, and went rushing back again as rapidly as it had advanced.

The mate sank down once more into his seat. "Unless the tide rises
higher, we are safer where we are than we should be anywhere else," he
observed.

The tide apparently was not rising, for though the surf rolled over the
sand, the fiat had gone forth, "Thus far shalt thou come, and no
further." Still the occasional sound of falling trees, and the crashing
of boughs rudely rent off, showed that the storm continued with unabated
fury.

Daylight came stealing silently over the tumultuous ocean, still tossing
and foaming before them; but there the explorers sat safe from harm,
sheltered beneath a rock which no tempest