the Royal Navy.

"There, she shows a light," said the naval youth, as a flame, like that
of a blazing tar-barrel, shot suddenly up against the dark sky and
showed the rigging of a wreck, far out in the bay where the war of wind
and waves was fiercest.

Scarcely had this light appeared when the Coastguardsman laid his hand
on the young sailor's shoulder and pointed towards the cliffs far away
to the left of the bay. There a rocket had cut the heavens with a line
of vivid fire. While they gazed, another sprang up into the sky.

"A vessel on the rocks!" said the Coastguardsman, (he had to shout in
the other's ear, so loud was the gale); "my duty lies there. Will you
go with me, or stay to see the lifeboat start?"

"I'll stick by the lifeboat," shouted the man-of-war's man, and they
parted.

Ah! it was grand to see that lifeboat go into action. She could be
easily seen, though the night was so dark, for she was painted pure
white and bright blue, with a scarlet strip round her--a "thing of
light," but by no means a light thing! She was so large, and stout, and
heavy, that she required a strong carriage on four wheels to transport
her from her boat-house to the edge of the sea, which foamed, and
hissed, and leaped up at her bow as if to taste the morsel which it
hoped soon to swallow.

While the boat was yet on its carriage, her stout coxswain, or captain,
clambered in.

"Now then, my jolly volunteers," he shouted, "jump up, and on wi' your
life-belts."

At that word our handsome young sailor laid his hands on the edge of the
boat and vaulted into her as if he had been made of india-rubber. Ten
more men followed his example, and quickly put on their belts.

"Nobody's allowed to go off without a life-belt," said the coxswain to
the young sailor, "besides, it's against rules to let you go."

"How's that?" asked the youth; "you called for volunteers."

"Yes, but our volunteer-crew is already made up, so you must jump out.
Thank you all the same, my fine fellow."

The man-of-war's man was too well disciplined to think of resistance,
even for a moment. With a look of disappointment and an active bound,
he leaped out upon the sand.

At that moment one of the men raised an oar, which was blown round by a
sudden blast, and its end struck another of the crew on the temple,
rendering him almost insensible. He had to be put out at once, and
another volunteer was called for. Like a flash of light, our youthful