so, sir."

"Then go right forward with him, watch for a heavy wave, and over with
you."

The man nodded, and held out his great fist.

"You'll shake hands with me, sir?"

The Captain clasped his man's hand directly.

"You'll come too, sir?"

"Man, my arm is broken," said the Captain.

Jeff stared at him in horror, and then, picked up the remains of the
lead-line, and before the Captain could check him, he had lashed him
fast to the rail of the bridge.

"I'm going to fetch a boat to take you off, sir," he cried; and he
stooped down to pick up Bob, and go on to the fore part of the vessel;
but in spite of the roar and confusion made by the water thundering
about them, and drenching them, as every wave broke, the gallant little
fellow had fully realised the terrible position in which they stood,
and eluding the coxswain's grasp, he ran to his father, and clung to
him.

"No, no," he cried; "I won't go. I'll stay with my father till you----"

"Spoke like a hero," cried Jeffs, "but orders must be obeyed, my lad,"
and seizing the little fellow round the waist, he ran down to the deck,
then right to the bows, with his burden struggling and striking at him
to escape. The next minute, he was up on the bulwark, and as a wave
surged up, plunged overboard, rose directly well clear of the vessel on
the rocks, looked back, to see the Captain on the bridge, and then,
holding the boy's head well above the water with his left arm, struck
out with his right, for the shore.

* * * * *

It was a hard fight to avoid the rocks, but the life-belts made the
task easier, and Tom Jeffs swam and was carried on shore-ward, to where
a dozen fishermen were on the look-out with ropes, one of whom ran in
from the sands to the coxswain's help, and dragged him in to safety;
but, in spite of all his efforts, the Skipper was insensible. He soon
roused, to stand with Jeffs, watching his father, lashed to the bright
brass handrail on the bridge.

"Get a boat, Jack; oh, get a boat," cried the boy.

"You be a man and listen, youngster," cried the coxswain tenderly, but
firmly. "Hear what I says, and act like a man. These here, as knows the
coast, says no boat could be launched now, but the tide's a-falling
fast, and bimeby they'll go and fetch the skipper off--if she don't go
to pieces fust," he added to himself.

"And take me too!" cried the boy wildly.

"Well, we'll see, my lad, but one on us o' c