f upon me, "Is Walter among them? If he is, will he reach the
shore alive?"

Grace and I grasped the rope tightly. Now a huge wave came roaring in,
with the vessel on its summit. She seemed close to us, and then away
she glided towards the ocean. Oh, how it tantalised us as we saw
several persons still clinging to her!--and I thought I could
distinguish Mr Hooker and Dick Tarbox. Yes--and there was a slight
figure also. "Can that be Walter? Yes, yes--it must be!" I thought.

And now once again the vessel was driving towards the land. On--on she
came! Now at length she touched the beach.

"Spring! spring!" cried Mr Sedgwick, rushing into the water, the Frau
holding the rope with all her might. Oliver followed his example.

The figure on which my eyes were fixed let go its hold, and the next
instant was buffeting the waves, which seemed to be carrying him out to
sea. Oliver dashed in, we almost being dragged in after him. But we
held the rope tightly, leaning back against it; and Oliver grasped the
person with his hand, and with desperate energy we hauled them both
ashore. Oh, what joy and gratitude I felt when I recognised Walter, as
he staggered forward towards us!

"Yes, I am safe, dear sister! And you--" He could say no more, ere he
sank on the ground. "Go and help the others," he said, faintly. "Do
not delay. On, Oliver, on!"

Oliver again rushed forward, and caught hold of Potto Jumbo, who at that
moment leapt from the vessel, to which he had till then been clinging,
into the foaming surf. Oliver grasped him by his woolly hair just as he
was being torn away; and directly after, Potto, gaining his feet, rushed
up the sand carrying Oliver in his arms. Oliver himself was almost
overcome by his exertion. My uncle, in the meantime, had caught hold of
Mr Hooker, and placed him in safety, and was now rushing in to help
Dick Tarbox. He succeeded in his efforts. Meantime Potto Jumbo, taking
the rope off Oliver, fastened it round his own waist. "I go for the
others," he cried out. "You hold dere, Oliver and you young ladies.
Don't let go. Walter, he soon come all right--no fear." Saying this,
Potto rushed into the water, and reaching the wreck, seized hold of Mr
Thudicumb, who was still clinging to it. But where was honest Roger
Trew? Mr Thudicumb was landed, but greatly exhausted. Just then we
saw another figure holding on to the bulwarks forward; but he had before
been so completely cover