raging waters, which now dashed
impetuously against it, might prove my grave and that of all dear to me.

Of course my son and Charley White and the two seamen saw our danger as
clearly as I did, but we did not communicate our ideas to each other,
and I was anxious not to alarm my dear wife and daughters. The little
craft looked up bravely however, and my hopes revived; again they sank,
for the gale came down stronger than ever on us, and I saw that we were
driving closer and closer towards the shore. A large ship might
possibly, by cutting away her masts have ridden out the gale at her
anchors; we, had we made the attempt, should have foundered. My wife
and Mary and Susan had one after the other appeared at the companion
hatch, and with pale faces, as they saw the state of things, had gone
below again. I hadn't the heart even to tell them my fears. Bob Hunt
and Dick Nailor took matters very coolly.

"The Duchess don't think anything will come of it," observed Bob to
Dick, pointing to the cat who was sitting on a coil of rope on the head
of a water cask lashed to the weather bulwarks.

"May be not, but she may be mistaken once in a way, Bob," answered Dick,
who, seeing the imminent danger in which we were placed, lost his
confidence in the fore-knowledge of the cat.

From what may sound ridiculous, but was not really so, I must turn to a
more serious matter. I suspected that my wife and daughters knew our
danger, though I had not told them of it.

We had driven still nearer to the land, and wishing to ascertain exactly
on what part of the coast we were, that I might, if possible, run the
vessel on shore on some spot where we might have a chance of saving our
lives I went below to examine the chart.

CHAPTER SIX.

IN SMOOTH WATER.

The cabin was very dark, from the skylight being covered over and
battened down. The schooner was however so tight and strong, that
provided the hatches were on, I knew that she might almost roll over and
over, and yet not fill. This gave me great confidence as long as we
kept to the open sea; but driven on rocks or quicksands, with such a
gale as was then blowing, there could have been no hope for the stoutest
ship that ever floated on the salt ocean. As I was saying, I went into
the cabin; although gloomy enough on deck, it was still darker below;
for the gleam of light which came down the companion-hatch scarcely
found its way beyond the foot of the ladder. I looked