gination. Nevertheless, so much were they
impressed, that the coxswain put about and returned towards the wreck.
Too soon they discovered that it had been the death-cry of those who
were left behind, for _not a vestige of the_ "_Trident_" _remained_!
The ill-fated vessel had been suddenly broken up and utterly swept away!

In their anxiety to save any who might yet survive, and be clinging to
portions of the wreck, the boat cruised about for some time, and her
captain was tempted to advance too far over the dangerous shoals. She
struck suddenly with great violence, and remained fast on the sands.
The utmost efforts were made to haul off, but in vain. The boat was
hurled again and again on the ridges of sand;--passed over several of
them, and became hopelessly entangled.

Those well-known ripples that one sees on the shore, are, on the Goodwin
Sands, magnified from an inch to nearly three feet. Over these the boat
now began to surge.

"Hoist the sail! up with it!" cried the coxswain as they suddenly passed
into deeper water. Some of the men began to hope that they had crossed
the shoals, but they were mistaken.

The order was obeyed, and the boat rushed forward wildly, with its lee
gunwale buried deep in the sea; another moment and it struck again with
tremendous violence. Those on board would have been torn out of her had
they not clung to the seats with the energy of despair. It now became
clear to all who knew the locality, that there was no alternative for
them but to beat right across the Sands. The violence of the gale had
increased. The night was pitchy dark, and the fearful shocks with which
they struck the gigantic ripples on the banks, sent despair to the
hearts of all, except the crew of the boat. These, knowing her
capabilities, retained a vestige of hope.

Bax, being ignorant on this point, had given up all hope. He clung to
the bollard, close beside the coxswain.

"It's all over with us at last," he said, as the boat struck heavily,
and was then lifted away on the crest of a roaring breaker.

"It may be so," replied the coxswain, calmly; "but if we escape being
dashed on the wrecks that are scattered over the Sands, we may live it
out yet."

And what of Mr Denham, the head of the wealthy firm, who years ago had
expressed the opinion that lifeboats were unnecessary, and that "those
who devoted themselves to a sea-faring life ought to make up their minds
to the chances and risks attending