"Aye, they are there or thereabouts; but, at all events, we're going to
land on Herschel Island, as it's a case with us of any port in a storm!
Look out there, forwards!" he called out a moment or two after to the
men. "Be ready to down the mainsail when I give the word. Steady with
the sheets. Now!"

And, with a grating noise, the boat's keel struck the shore, carried
forwards on the top of a huge wave, whose backwash, however, dragged us
back into the deep the next second, slewing the head of the boat round
at the same time, so that she hung broadside on.

"Out oars, men--out oars for your life!" shouted the skipper, seeing the
terrible danger that now threatened us in the very moment of safety;
but, before the order could be executed, the long-boat was upset, and we
were all tumbling about in the surf!

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

AN AUSTRAL AURORA.

A wild cry went up to Heaven as we struggled for dear life in the water,
battling with the under-tow of the in-rolling waves, which tried to drag
us down in their angry clutches; but first one and then another emerged
dripping on the sands, even Mr Ohlsen having saved himself without
help, although he had been snugly tucked up in his hammock a moment
before, and was lying down in the stern-sheets when the boat capsized.

Poor Harmer, however, whose broken leg was only fresh set, and the bones
not united, was unable to put out a hand on his own behalf, and seeing
he had not gained the beach with the others, I looked eagerly about for
him, knowing that in his crippled state it was almost impossible for him
to have got ashore.

Just then, his head appeared some twenty feet out from the land, in the
midst of the boiling surf, with his hands stretched out in mute entreaty
to us, appealing for succour as he was being carried out rapidly to sea.

Who could refrain from venturing in again to rescue him?

Certainly not I; and, as I dashed in, Pat Doolan followed my example,
the cook uttering a wild Irish yell that had the effect of animating
several of the rest of the sailors to lend us a helping hand, although
they had not the pluck to dash in too.

"Hooroo, boys!" he shouted. "Follow me leader, ye spalpeens, and let us
say who'll raich the poor drowning chap first! Ould Oireland for iver!"

He reached Harmer almost as soon as I, and the two of us took hold of
him together--the poor fellow, however, being already insensible, made
no effort whatever to keep up and h