ose lives were lost _unnecessarily_; that their loss was owing
not nearly so much to the direct providence of God as to the
incompetence, the ignorance, the false economy, and the culpable
carelessness of man.

Mrs Foster's head lay on a soft pillow while the tempest raged around
her humble dwelling. She little thought that one around whom her
heart-strings were entwined was out on the wild sea that night, exposed
to its utmost fury and in urgent need of the aid of that species of boat
which had filled her thoughts that evening, and still continued to
influence her dreams.

CHAPTER FIVE.

THE GALE--FALSE ECONOMY AND ITS RESULTS--A WRECK ON THE GOODWIN SANDS.

What seamen style a "whole gale" seemed to be brewing when the "Nancy"
tripped her anchor and shook out her sails.

Sailors have a quiet, matter-of-fact, and professional way of talking
about the weather. Landsmen would be surprised (perhaps something
more!) if exposed to what Jack calls a stiff breeze, or a capful of
wind. A "whole gale" may sound peculiar to some ears, but if the said
gale were to sound _in_ the same ears, the hearers would be apt to style
it, in consternation, "a most tremendous hurricane!"

On board the "Nancy," Bax and Bluenose had some suspicion that
_something_ was brewing, but whether a "whole gale," or "half a gale,"
or a "stiff breeze," they could not be expected to divine, not being
possessed of supernatural gifts.

Had they been possessed of a good barometer they would have been able to
foretell what was coming without supernatural gifts; but Messrs. Denham,
Crumps, and Company were economical in their tendencies, and deemed
barometers superfluous. Being, to some extent, ignorant of nautical
affairs (as well as of scientific), and being to a large extent
indifferent to the warning voices of those who knew better, they thought
fit to intrust the "Nancy" to the unaided wisdom of the intelligent
young seaman who commanded her.

Of course, being acute men of business, they took every "needful"
precaution, and being men of experience, they were not blind to the fact
that many vessels were annually lost; they therefore insured schooner
and cargo to their full value. Having done so, Messrs. Denham, Crumps,
and Company felt at ease. If the "Nancy" should happen to go down--no
matter; it would perhaps be a more rapid and satisfactory way of
terminating a doubtful venture! It was just possible that in the event
of the "Nancy"