ittle to the north
of Deal, the crew of the lifeboat had been on the look-out, and no
sooner did they see the rocket and hear the gun, than they launched
their boat and put off to the rescue.

It is generally found that there are more men to man the lifeboats on
many parts of our coasts than are required, and this is specially the
case on the Kentish coast. Hence, when the signal-rocket goes up on a
stormy night, many eager eyes are on the watch, and there is a rush to
the boat in order to secure a place. On this occasion there were one or
two men who, rather than wait to pull on their oilskin coats and
pantaloons, had run down just as they happened to be clothed at the
time, and in a very unfit state to face the inclemency of a night which
might involve hours of unremitting and exhaustive labour. These jumped
into their places, however, and their less fortunate comrades, who
arrived too late, supplied them with garments. In five minutes the
lifeboat was flying under sail towards the Goodwin Sands.

Seldom had the Broadstairs boat faced so wild a storm as that which blew
on this occasion. The sea broke over her in cataracts. Again and again
she was more than half-filled with water, but this was speedily got rid
of, and in the course of an hour she was beside the lugger.

"Where away?" shouted the coxswain of the lifeboat as they passed.

"Right ahead, not two cables' lengths," roared Davis.

The sails of the lifeboat had already been lowered, and the oars were
out in a second. Gradually and slowly they dropped down towards the
breakers, and soon caught sight of the mast of the "Nancy," still
towering up in the midst of the angry waters.

The danger to the lifeboat was now very great, for there was such a wild
chopping sea on the sands that it ran great risk of being upset. The
boat was one of the old-fashioned stamp, which, although incapable of
being sunk, was not secure against being overturned, and it did not
possess that power of righting itself which characterises the lifeboats
of the present day.

In a few minutes they were near enough to see the mast of the "Nancy"
dimly in the dark. The coxswain immediately gave the order to let go
the anchor and veer down towards the wreck. Just as he did so, a
terrific sea came rolling towards them like a black mountain.

"Look out, men!" he shouted.

Every man let go his oar, and, throwing himself on the thwart, embraced
it with all his might. The wave we