aused by the increasing storm flew over the lifeboat, so that
those in her could only hold on to the thwarts for their lives. At last
the brig came so near that there was a stir among the men; they were
preparing for the last struggle--some of them intending to leap into the
rigging of the wreck and take their chance; but the coxswain shouted,
"Stick to the boat, boys! stick to the boat!" and the men obeyed.

At that moment the boat lifted a little on the surf, and grounded again.
New hope was infused by this.

The men pulled at the hawser, and shoved might and main with the oars.
They succeeded in getting out of immediate danger, but still could not
pull up to the anchor in teeth of wind and tide. The coxswain then saw
plainly that there was but one resource left--to cut the cable and drive
right across the Goodwin Sands. But there was not yet sufficient water
on the Sands to float them over; so they held on, intending to ride at
anchor until the tide, which had turned, should rise. Very soon,
however, the anchor began to drag. This compelled them to hoist sail,
cut the cable sooner than they had intended, and attempt to beat off the
Sands. It was in vain. A moment more, and they struck with tremendous
force. A breaker came rolling towards them, filled the boat, caught her
up like a plaything on its crest, and, hurling her a few yards onwards,
let her fall again with a shock that well-nigh tore every man out of
her. Each successive breaker treated her in this way.

Those who dwell by the sea-shore know well the familiar ripples that
mark the sands when the tide is out. On the Goodwins these ripples are
gigantic steps, to be measured by feet, not by inches. From one to
another of these banks this splendid boat was thrown. Each roaring surf
caught it by the bow or stern, and, whirling it right round, sent it
crashing on the next ledge. The Portuguese sailors appeared to give up
all hope, and clung to the thwarts in silent despair; but the crew--
eighteen in number--did not lose heart altogether. They knew their boat
well, had often gone out to battle in her, and hoped that they might yet
be saved if she should only escape striking on the pieces of old wrecks
with which the Sands were strewn.

Thus, literally, yard by yard, with a succession of shocks that would
have knocked any ordinary boat to pieces, did that lifeboat drive during
_two_ hours over _two_ miles of the Goodwin Sands. At last they drove
i