Guy, wot are
ye up to?"

Guy had hauled in the slack of one of the numerous ropes attached to the
main-mast that were floating away to leeward, and was fastening the end
of it round his waist. Bluenose and the missionary turned quickly on
hearing the seaman's shout, but they were too late to prevent the bold
youth from carrying out his design, even if they had wished to do so.

Taking a vigorous spring to windward, Guy was in the sea in a moment.
In another instant he was lost to view in darkness. Bluenose seized the
end of the rope, and awaited the result in breathless suspense.
Presently a shout so faint that it seemed miles away, was heard to
leeward, and the rope was jerked violently.

"Now lads, all hands a-hoy!" cried Bluenose in wild excitement. "Just
give 'em time to haul in the slack, and tie it round 'em, and then pull
with a will."

The incident and the energy of the Captain seemed to act like a spell on
the men who had up to this time clung to the shrouds in a state of
half-stupor. They clustered round Bluenose, and each gaining the best
footing possible in the circumstances, seized hold of the rope.

Again the rope was shaken violently, and a heavy strain was felt on it.
The men pulled it in with difficulty, hand over hand, and in a short
time Bax, Guy, and Tommy were once more safe in their former position on
the cross-trees.

Terrible indeed their danger, when such a position could be spoken of as
one of safety!

Another hour passed away. To those who were out on that fatal night the
minutes seemed hours--the hours days.

Still no succour came to them. The storm instead of abating seemed to
be on the increase. Had it not been for the peculiar form of the shoal
on which they lay, the old vessel must have been dashed to pieces in the
first hour of that terrible gale.

Gradually Bax ceased to raise his encouraging voice--indeed the
whistling wind would have rendered it inaudible--and the party on the
cross-trees clung to their frail spar almost in despair. As the gale
increased so did the danger of their position. No chance of deliverance
seemed left to them; no prospect of escape from their dreadful fate; the
only ray of hope that came to them fitfully through the driving storm,
was the faint gleaming of the lightship that guards the Goodwin Sands.

CHAPTER SIX.

HEROES OF THE KENTISH COAST--THE LIFEBOAT--THE RESCUE.

Deal beach is peculiar in more respects than one. There are