sy paying
out the hawser, into the sea. The people on the beach watched eagerly
for their reappearance above water, but not one of them was ever seen
again. It afterwards transpired that there was not a swimmer amongst
the entire crew, which, all told, amounted to fifteen hands.

The intelligence of a wreck had attracted a large concourse of people to
the spot, notwithstanding the discomfort attendant on being abroad in so
violent a gale; and one gentleman had taken upon himself to despatch
omnibuses from the town, well supplied with blankets, etcetera, for the
relief and benefit of any poor sufferers who might reach the shore
alive. Into one of these vehicles the unfortunate master of the ship
was now placed with the utmost care, a couch being extemporised for him
in the bottom of the 'bus by piling together all the blankets which had
been sent. In spite, however, of the utmost care in driving, the jolts
were frequent, and sometimes rather heavy, and the poor fellow's groans
indicated such intensity of suffering, that by the time we were half-way
to town I decided I would take him to my own house, whereby he would be
spared nearly half an hour of anguish.

It fortunately happened that, just as I had come to this resolution, a
gentleman rode up, and learning who we had inside, volunteered his
services. I immediately accepted them, desiring him to ride back to the
town, and despatch to my house the ablest physician he could find. When
the 'bus drew up at our door, the doctor was there in readiness for his
patient, whom we lifted out, apparently in the last stage of exhaustion,
and carried carefully into the house and upstairs into my own room,
where my sister (advertised by Bob, who had made the best of his way
home on foot) had a cheerful fire blazing in the grate, hot water in
abundance, and everything else ready that her womanly sympathy could
suggest.

CHAPTER TWO.

THE SECRET.

The doctor remained with the sick man more than half an hour; and when I
heard his footstep descending the staircase I went out and met him.

"The poor fellow is sinking rapidly," said he, in reply to my inquiries;
"he has received severe internal injuries, and is bleeding to death
inwardly. I can do nothing, absolutely _nothing_ for him. Keep him
quiet, and humour him as much as you can; excitement of any kind will
only hasten his dissolution." I cheerfully promised to do all I could
for the dying man; and the doctor took