have sent them over the side. More sail was set however, and the "Big Ann" lay well outside the point. "If the sticks and the ropes will only do their work for a quarter of an hour longer" whispered Mr. Moriarty to Hugh, "we shall be right." Almost before he had finished speaking, the main-top gallant mast went with a crash, and the vessel fell off a few points. "Are the anchors all ready Mr. Moriarty?" cried the captain, "All clear, Sir" was the answer. "Very good," said the captain, as he took his stand by the wheel: "we have done all we can, Providence must do the rest.—How's her head?" "Well outside the point, now Sir, but she drops off every now and again." Two men were stationed at the hatches with orders to tear them up the moment there was any imminent danger. One of the men sat himself down, put a bit of rope in his mouth and chewed it with all apparent signs of coolness. The passengers were making a great noise below, and he growled out, "Lie quiet, can't ye? isn't it as well to go down quietly as kicking up sich a bobbery?—I'm blest if this aint the last voyage I'll make in an emigrant ship—a slaver's nothing to it." Certainly it did not appear by any means impossible that the present voyage would close Jack's nautical career; for the vessel was within a quarter of a mile of the shore, and she appeared to be nearly surrounded by sand banks; the noise of the waves beating on the rock-bound coast was painfully distinct, and the long unbroken line of foam showed but too clearly the fate which awaited the ship unless the point could be cleared.
"I think," said the captain, after a pause, to the mate, who was steering, "that she's all right this time; ten minutes will decide it." "It's close shaving," said the mate. All on deck felt the peril they were in: none knew it better than the captain and the mate; but they were collected, and gave the
