he "Trident" could be brought fully
to realise their danger. It was hard to believe that, after weathering
the cyclones of the southern seas, and the gales of the Atlantic, they
had reached home at last to be cast a wreck upon their own threshold,
and to perish within hail almost of relatives and friends.

For a long time they refused to credit the appalling truth that their
case was all but hopeless,--anchored as they were close to a lee shore,
with inadequate ground tackle, and an increasing gale. When the chain
of the smaller anchor snapped, and the Captain ordered the minute-gun to
be fired, and rockets to be thrown up, then the wail of terror began:--

"Then shrieked the timid, and stood still the brave."

"You'd better order the boats to be lowered," said the dark passenger to
the Captain, with a sneer that seemed unnatural as well as unfeeling in
the circumstances.

The Captain, who was standing by the starboard mizzen shrouds at the
time, glanced angrily at him for a moment, and said:--

"Ha! You know well enough that there ain't boats enough in the ship to
carry all the passengers, and if there were, they could not live for a
moment in such a sea."

"Yes," replied the dark man, vehemently, "I know that well enough; and I
know, too, that there's no lifeboat of any kind aboard, nor
life-jackets, nor life-buoys, beyond what would suffice to float some
half dozen men; and the owners knew this before sending their ship to
sea, and, knowing it, they cared not a rap, because they had insured
ship and cargo to the full value. Human life, not being counted part of
the cargo, is of no value whatever to _them_."

"Come, Mr Clelland," said the Captain, reproachfully, "is this a time
for a Christian man to encourage bitter feelings against his fellows
because of systems and customs, bad or good?"

"Ay, it _is_ the time," answered the other; "at least if I don't let out
my mind now, it's not likely I'll find a fitter time to do it in this
world."

He said this somewhat sadly, and turned away, just as the Captain gave
orders to throw up another rocket.

Far along that stormy coast the rocket was seen by hundreds who knew
well what the signal meant, and many of whom, no doubt, offered up
prayer to God for those who were in danger. Most of them, however, felt
that they could do nothing in the way of affording aid. Our friend Bax
and his companions were not of this mind, as we have seen.

Some of the stout-h