cheat Davy Jones out of the best part of his bargain
this bout, anyway."

A large red bandana handkerchief was produced and seized to the end of a
boat-hook; this extempore flag and staff Grummet took in his hand, and,
proceeding to the summit of the beach, commenced waving it to and fro,
to attract the attention of the people on board the doomed ship. She
was now so close that we could see the two men at her wheel, and a man,
whom we supposed to be the master, standing by the mizen rigging.

Just abaft the mainmast, and huddled together under the shelter of the
weather bulwarks, we could see some seven or eight more of her crew, and
others were doubtless cowering elsewhere out of sight.

Grummet waved his flag energetically from the crest of the beach, and
the coastguardmen busied themselves in making such slight preparations
as were in their power to assist the crew in escaping from the wreck.
Several coils of line had been brought down to the beach; one man, who
announced himself to be a good swimmer, had secured an end of the
smallest of these to his waist; he now stood prepared to divest himself
of all his superfluous clothing at a moment's notice, and to attempt the
hazardous experiment of rushing into the boiling surf, to drag out any
poor unfortunate whom he might be able to reach. Others were engaged in
various ways in preparing themselves to render what assistance was in
their power, when a cry from Grummet announced that the crisis had
arrived; on looking up we saw that the stranger's fore-topmast had gone
in the cap; and now hung to leeward, with the topsail and topmast
staysail thrashing to ribbons; the latter threatening at every jerk to
take the bowsprit out of the ship. The foresail was also split from
head to foot; and, even as we looked, the overstrained canvas gave way,
and, fluttering for a moment in the furious gale, parted from the bolt-
ropes, and came flying like a shred of cloud to leeward.

The ship, thus deprived of her head-sail, luffed into the wind; and the
moment that the rest of her canvas shook, away it came also, leaving her
helpless and unmanageable, with the sea sweeping her deck fore and aft.

"Now stand by, men," shouted Grummet, "and each one do his best for the
poor souls; for they were never nearer to death's door than they will be
in another two minutes. If he had run her stem on to the beach they
might have stood a chance; but I fear it is all over with them now, for
sh