they would all be under the wheels of the
steamer,--obeyed every command with their wonted precision. But it was
a second too late to take the back track. If the boat had continued to
back as at first, she would probably have escaped, for the steamer put
her helm a-starboard a little, in order to favor her manoeuvre. When
a collision seemed inevitable, the steamer's bell was rung to stop
her, and then to back her.

She struck the cutter; but as her progress had been powerfully
checked, the blow did not carry her under, though it stove in the side
of the boat. The water poured in through the broken broadside, and the
crew sprang for their lives. They leaped upon the guys and bob-stays
of the steamer, and were hauled in by the people on the bow.

"Come out of there, Ole," said Stockwell, as he pulled the boat's sail
from the extended form of the waif, who was concealed in the bottom of
the boat.

Ole lost not a moment in following the example of his companions. As
the steamer's headway had now been entirely checked, Stockwell held
the wrecked cutter in her position, while Rodman passed the
pea-jackets up to the forecastle of the steamer. Having done this,
they abandoned the boat, and followed the example of their companions.
No one was drowned, or even wet above his knees, for the steamer had
struck the boat just hard enough to stave in her side, without
carrying her under.

The Norwegians hooked up the boat's painter, and taking it in tow,
proceeded on her course; for the captain--as interpreted by
Ole--declared that his boat carried the mail, and he could not wait
for anything.

CHAPTER IV.

NORWAY IN THE PAST AND THE PRESENT.

"Clear away the first cutter!" shouted the first lieutenant of the
Young America, from whose deck the catastrophe to the second cutter
had been observed.

"All the first cutters!" piped the boatswain, with an energy inspired
by the stirring occasion.

"That was very carelessly done," said Mr. Lowington, whose attention
had been called to the scene.

"The steamer ran within a couple of rods of the island," added Captain
Cumberland. "I saw the fourth lieutenant order the boat to shove off;
I suppose he did it to prevent the swash of the steamer from grinding
the cutter on the rocks."

"What is he doing among those rocks?" asked the principal.

"I don't know, sir. He landed Mr. Mapps and the doctor, and was
ordered to wait for them. I don't see why he went over to that
isla