tic
liner appeared out of the fog, close at hand; there was a fearful
crash, and Captain Trevor was thrown heavily down, as the "Flash" was
struck amidships, and heeled over, as if the huge vessel that had
struck her, were about to ride right over her, and send her to the
bottom. But instead she scraped along her side, swept away two boats,
and disappeared directly in the mist, with the dismal sound of the
fog-horn dying away.

[Illustration: "_There was a fearful crash, as the 'Flash' was struck
amidships._"]

There was no confusion on board the "Flash"; every officer and man
sprang to quarters, and after a few brief orders, all stood breathless,
waiting for the report of the damage.

It was not long in coming. There was a terrible gap in the gun-boat's
side, and Captain Trevor knew that, do all he might, she could only be
kept afloat for an hour or so, before she sank.

For a few minutes the poor young Skipper was forgotten, in the stern
duties before Captain Trevor, with so many lives depending upon him;
then the father's heart spoke to him reproachfully, and he called for
his coxswain.

Tom Jeffs towered up big out of the fog directly, saluting.

"Jeffs," said the Captain calmly, "get two life-belts. My little son is
in the cabin. Whatever happens, stand by him. I trust him to you."

"Jack Robinson" opened his mouth, and stood as if turned to stone.

"You hear! Quick!" cried the Captain.

"Ay, ay, sir!" roared the man, and his voice was like a dismal groan.
The "Flash's" head had been turned for the shore, and she was going at
full speed for the Cornish coast, and, with the remaining boats ready
for lowering, when necessary, the steam pumps going, and the men, under
the first lieutenant's orders, toiling away, stretching sails over the
terrible gap in the gun-boat's side, while the propeller spun round, to
force her through the dense fog, in the hope that the nearest port
might be reached.

Meanwhile, the coxswain had recovered a little from his stupor, and,
armed with the life-belts, made his way to the cabin, where he found
the Skipper, lying quite helpless on the floor.

"What cheer, my lad!" he cried, and his presence there, roused the boy
at once; "feel a bit queery?"

"Yes; so ill, Jack," said the Skipper.

"On'y qualmy, my lad. Soon be better."

"Where's my father? Is anything the matter?"

"Oh, nothing much. Set o' lubbers shoved one o' them big 'ormous
passenger boats aboard us, in the f