aster?"

Uncle Abram was holding his long telescope against the corner of the
pilchard-house, and gazing attentively through it at the distant ship.

"No, Josh, my lad," he said; "there's too much water on the Six Pins
even for her. She'll come clear o' them and right on to Black Point."

"And then?" said Mr Temple anxiously.

"We shall do what we can with the rocket-line if the masts hold good for
a bit, sir."

"But a boat--a life-boat!"

Uncle Abram shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

"Soon as that first gun was heard, sir, there was a man got on a horse
and went over the hills to Corntown, where the life-boat lies, and
they'll come over as fast as horses can draw the carriage; but it will
take them a long time to get over along the rough road, and when they do
get her here, where she's to be launched I can't tell."

Mr Temple and his sons looked about the bay at the tremendous breakers
that were forming, as it were, a frame of foam. Even the entrance to
the harbour was marked by the waves that leaped against the pier.

"I can't see the ship, father," whispered Dick in an awe-stricken voice,
as he handed back the glass, whose bottom was dimmed with spray the
moment he put it to his eyes.

"There--there," said Will hoarsely, as he pointed out to sea.

"No, I can't see it," said Dick again.

"Can you see the Bird Rock--the Mew Rock, where we caught the conger?"
said Will hastily, and with his lips close to Dick's face.

"Yes."

"Then fix your eyes there, and then look straight from there to the old
mine-shaft on the hill."

"Yes--yes," cried Dick. "I can see a mast all amongst the spray; and
it's coming on this way."

"To destruction," said Mr Temple to himself, as he too now caught sight
of the unfortunate vessel driving towards the rocks slowly and surely,
and once more the crew drew attention to their peril by firing a
signal-gun.

It is one of the most terribly painful positions in which a man can be
placed, to see his fellow-creatures slowly drifting into what is almost
certain death without being able to stretch out a hand to save.

There was no need to warn the crew of their danger; they knew that but
too well, for the great grey rocks were in front of them with the
breakers at their feet; and as the excitement increased Will caught
Dick's arm.

"They're getting out the rocket-lines," he said, shouting into Dick's
ear. "Come and see."

The wind and spray were forgotten, as th