for the risk when I made the offer. Harry, tell my
mother, if you escape, how I thought of her to the last. Never forget
what I have just been talking to you about. Gerard, your father will
understand that I died in the discharge of my duty. Friends, good-bye;
I trust that God, in his good pleasure, will enable me to bring you
Help."

Saying these words, he handed us his clothes, which we hung across the
keel of the boat, and then he slid off into the dark water, and struck
out directly for the shore. As soon as he was gone, old Surley seemed
resolved to follow his example; and though we tried to hold him, he
dashed off into the water, and away he went, swimming quietly by the
side of Mr Brand.

"One good thing is, the old dog will perhaps help him if he gets tired,"
remarked Jerry. "I've heard of them doing such things."

Cousin Silas calculated that, being carried to the south by the set of
the current he should thus land directly under the light. With calm,
steady strokes, he clove his way through the yielding fluid. Not a
sound escaped from his manly breast, nor could we detect the noise made
by his slowly-moving hands, as they separated the water before him. How
earnestly did we pray for him!--how eagerly did we watch him, till his
head was shrouded in darkness.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

ROUNDING CAPE HORN.

On drifted the boat! Darkness was above us--darkness was around us!--
that small beacon-light the only source of hope. Without it we must
have given way to despair. How eagerly, how intently we listened for
the sound of Cousin Silas's shout, should he have succeeded in reaching
the shore! We came almost abreast of the light; not a sound reached our
ears.

"It is a long distance for the voice of a man exhausted with swimming to
be heard," said Burkett. "He scarcely, too, could have reached there
yet." We thought not either. We relapsed into silence and listened.

"O Burkett! what of the kelp?" suddenly exclaimed Kilby. "Can he ever
swim through it?"

My heart sunk within me as I heard the question; what man, even the
strongest swimmer, freshly taken to the water, could force his way
through those tangled masses of sea-weed? My noble-hearted cousin, was
he then to be the first victim among us?

"The shore is sandy thereabouts, and unusually free from kelp. There is
a natural dock where the schooner lies, and clear water all round."

These words spoken by Burkett again revived my hopes.