in danger of being
disabled by the rolling spars that surrounded them. With great
difficulty they succeeded in turning the boat over, but, as it was
nearly full of water, much valuable time was wasted before it could be
baled out sufficiently to render it once more serviceable. When this
was accomplished they hauled clear of the wreck, intending to veer round
towards the stern, where they could approach the ship with greater
safety.

The remaining passengers seeing this, rushed upon the poop. At that
moment the ship was lifted up, and hurled with such violence on a sunken
rock that her back was broken; the sea dashed against her side,
separating the poop from the fore part of the vessel, and turning it
completely over, so that every soul on board was plunged suddenly into
the sea.

A wild shriek of despair rose high above the howling of the storm, and
most of the weaker among the passengers sank in the raging sea to rise
no more. But the lifeboat was now in a condition to render effectual
aid to those who were strong enough to struggle a few minutes for their
lives, or to cling to broken portions of the wreck. She was soon as
full as she could hold, and Bax, seizing the bow oar, forced her head
round towards the shore. The coxswain sprang to the helm; "Give way,
lads," was shouted, and in a few seconds the boat was once again
careering towards the shore on the crest of a towering billow. She took
the beach in safety.

"Now, then, shove off again," cried Bax, when the last of the passengers
was assisted out of her.

"Stop!" cried a coast-guard-man, "some of the men are too much knocked
up to go off again."

This was evident, for when the lanterns were held up to the faces of the
brave fellows it was seen that several of the less robust among them
were deadly pale from sheer exhaustion and fatigue. They indignantly
protested, however, that they were still "game for another bout"; but
the coxswain firmly, though kindly, insisted that the cork belts should
be taken off two or three of them and given to the stoutest of at least
a dozen volunteers who eagerly stepped forward.

The boat was then relaunched, and after a careful search, and another
sharp struggle with the angry sea, returned with six saved men and a
woman, besides several apparently dead bodies, which were instantly
removed to a neighbouring cottage, to be treated according to the rules
laid down by the Royal Humane Society for the recovery of t