verance. Through the glimmering dawn and the driving spray the
lighthouse-keeper's daughter from the lonely watch-tower descried the
wreck, which was about a mile distant from the Longstone. From the
mainland, too, they were observed; and crowds of people lined the shore
and gazed upon the distant speck, to which, by the aid of telescopes,
the survivors were seen clinging with the tenacity of despair.

But no boat could live in that raging sea, which still lashed madly
against the riven rocks, although the violence of the storm had begun to
abate. An offer of 5 pounds by the steward of Bamborough Castle failed
to tempt a crew of men to launch their boat. One daring heart and
willing hand was there, however. Grace Darling, fired with an intense
desire to save the perishing ones, urged her father to launch their
little boat. At first he held back. There was no one at the lighthouse
except himself, his wife, and his daughter. What could such a crew do
in a little open boat in so wild a sea? He knew the extreme peril they
should encounter better than his daughter, and very naturally hesitated
to run so great a risk. For, besides the danger of swamping, and the
comparatively weak arm of an inexperienced woman at the oar, the passage
from the Longstone to the wreck could only be accomplished with the
ebb-tide; so that unless the exhausted survivors should prove to be able
to lend their aid, they could not pull back again to the lighthouse.

But the earnest importunities of the heroic girl were not to be
resisted. Her father at last consented, and the little boat pushed off
with the man and the young woman for its crew. It may be imagined with
what a thrill of joy and hope the people on the wreck beheld the boat
dancing an the crested waves towards them; and how great must have been
the surprise that mingled with their other feelings on observing that
one of the rowers was a woman!

They gained the rock in safety; but here their danger was increased
ten-fold, and it was only by the exertion of great muscular power,
coupled with resolute courage, that they prevented the boat being dashed
to pieces against the rock.

One by one the sufferers were got into the boat. Sarah Dawson was found
lying in the fore-cabin with a spark of life still trembling in her
bosom, and she still clasped her two little ones in her arms, but the
spirits of both had fled to Him who gave them. With great difficulty
the boat was rowed bac