of silver for the poor blind man," said Peter to
himself, shaking his head as he spoke, and then hastened on towards the
tower. He had not gone far when down came the rain, driven by a heavy
gale which dashed it furiously in his face. Still he struggled on, his
faithful dog pulling at his leading-string to induce him to walk faster,
the animal's instinct telling him that the storm had but commenced, and
that it was increasing in strength.

Captain Askew had been watching the storm after Stephen left from the
window of his room in the tower, occasionally sweeping the horizon with
his glass, to see what vessels were passing up and down the Channel, and
exposed to its rage. Then he returned to his work, in which he was much
interested, and then he went back to the window again. At length he
remained longer than he had before done at the window, earnestly looking
through his glass. "She'll be lost to a certainty if they don't succeed
in getting up jury-masts," he exclaimed. "No chance of that either,
she's driving right ashore. She'll anchor, but the ground will not hold
her. I must get some of our fellows to go off to her with me. They've
courage enough, if they can be stirred up."

He was watching all this time a large ship, which, totally dismasted,
was being driven towards the coast. He quickly put on his
foul-weather-dress, as he called it, with water-proof boots, and a
sou'-wester, and went to his wife's room. He put his head into the room
and said, "Margaret, I am wanted out there. God protect you and
Margery. I pray that I may be soon back--so will you, I know, dear
wife--good-bye." He did not stay to say more, and before she could ask
any questions he had hurried from the room.

Tom saw his master leaving the house. "I know what you're after," he
said to himself, and with a rapidity which few but sailors can exercise,
he had stepped into his rough-weather clothing, and was hurrying after
him. Though the captain was superior to Tom in most things, Tom having
two real legs, and the captain only one, Tom went over the ground the
fastest, and soon caught him up. "You are not going without me, sir, I
hope," said Tom, in a tone which showed that his feelings were deeply
hurt. "Did you ever go without me, sir, where there was anything to be
done, and the chance of a knock on the head?"

"No! Tom--but you see in this sort of work two hands are wanted, and
you haven't got two, and that's the long and t