ched;
also the sinking of heart that followed each effort, as, one by one,
they flared for an instant and went out!

At last the saturated mass caught fire, and instantly a rich flame of
light flashed over the wild scene, and clearly revealed to them the
appalling circumstances in which they were placed. Poor Lucy shuddered,
and covering her eyes cast herself in prayer on Him who is "mighty to
save." Bax raised the burning mass high over his head, and waved it in
the black air. He even clambered to the top of the broken mast, in
order to let it be seen far and wide over the watery waste. The
inflammable turpentine refused to be quenched by the raging storm, and
in a few seconds they had the comfort of seeing the bright flame of a
rocket shoot up into the sky. At the same moment a flash in the
distance showed that their signal had been observed by the light-ship.

The sound of the gun was not heard by those on the wreck, but both it
and the rocket were observed from the shore, where many a hardy seaman
and pilot, knowing full well the dangers of such a night, kept watch and
ward in order to render prompt assistance to their fellow-men in
distress.

It would be a matter of some interest to ascertain how many of the
inhabitants of this busy, thickly-populated isle are aware of the fact
that during every storm that blows, while they are slumbering,
perchance, in security and comfort in their substantial dwellings, there
are hundreds, ay, thousands, of hardy seamen all round our coasts,
standing patiently in such sheltered spots as they can find, encased in
oilskin, and gazing anxiously out into the dark sea, regardless of the
pelting storm, indifferent to the bitter cold, intent only on rendering
aid to their fellow-men, and ready at a moment's notice to place life
and limb in the most imminent jeopardy,--for what? Can any one suppose
that they do this for the sake of the silver medal, or the ten or twenty
shillings awarded to those who thus act by the Lifeboat Institution? Do
men in other circumstances hold their lives so cheap? Assuredly there
is a higher, a nobler motive that prompts the heroes of our coast to
their deeds of self-sacrifice and daring.

To those who clung to the main-top of the "Nancy" these signals were a
bright gleam of hope, with the exception of Lucy, whose spirit sank when
she endeavoured in vain to penetrate the thick darkness that followed.
Suspecting this, Bluenose, who clung to the cr