"Nancy" was flying like a racehorse towards the shore.

Pilots and seamen alone can properly comprehend the peculiar dangers
that attend the navigation of this part of our coast. It would only
perplex a landsman to be told in detail the proceedings of the "Nancy"
and her crew after this point. Suffice it to say that Bax handled her
with consummate skill, and did all that man could do for the safety of
his vessel, and the human lives that were dependent on his knowledge and
care.

"Is your daughter dressed?" inquired Bax of Mr Burton, as a fiercer
gust than usual nearly laid the schooner on her beam-ends, and deluged
the decks with water.

"No, she sleeps soundly, and I am loth to disturb her. Do you think we
are in much danger?"

"In none, if the schooner were seaworthy, but in much, seeing that she
has not got a sound plank or spar. Go down, sir, and get her dressed at
once; and, harkee, let her put on every wrap she happens to have with
her."

The missionary needed no second bidding. He went below to rouse and
assist Lucy, while Bluenose, Guy, and the rest of those on board, held
on to ropes, and belaying pins, and awaited the result in silence. The
noise of the wind, and the peals of thunder that seemed to tear the
heavens asunder, rendered conversation impossible. They all felt that a
few minutes would decide whether this terrible rush landward would
terminate in safety or disaster, and they knew that everything, as far
as human skill had to do with it, depended on Bax.

With a look of calm, sober gravity the young seaman stood grasping the
weather-shrouds of the mainmast, and looking intently towards the
light-ship called the Gull Light, which is anchored off the
North-sand-head.

During this period of suspense the lead was kept constantly going, and
reported almost every half-minute. Precious, significant, half-minutes
those, as much so as are the last few grains of sand in the hour-glass!

"Keep her away two points," cried Bax.

"Ay, ay, sir," answered the steersman. At that moment a violent gust
snapped the topsail-yard, and the sail was instantly blown to ribbons.
The dashing of this spar about carried away the foretop-mast, and almost
as a necessary consequence, the jib with the jib-boom went along with
it.

The schooner instantly became unmanageable, and was driven bodily to
leeward.

Seizing an axe, Bax, with the prompt assistance of the crew and his
friends, soon cleared away the wre