By Sheer Pluck | Page 6

keep her head dead to wind. Two of us will do for that.
You and I will row now, and let Handcock and Jones steer and rest by
turns. Then when we are done up they can take our places."
In another hour it was quite dark, save for the gray light from the
foaming water around. The wind was blowing stronger than ever, and it
required the greatest care on the part of the steersman to keep her dead
in the eye of the wind. Handcock was steering now, and Jones lying at
the bottom of the boat, where he was sheltered, at least from the wind.

All the lads were plucky fellows and kept up a semblance of good
spirits, but all in their hearts knew that their position was a desperate
one.

CHAPTER II
: A MAD DOG
"Don't you think, Hargate," Ruthven shouted in his ear, "we had better
run before it? It's as much as Handcock can do to keep her head
straight."
"Yes," Frank shouted back, "if it were not for the Goodwins. They lie
right across ahead of us."
Ruthven said no more, and for another hour he and Frank rowed their
hardest. Then Handcock and Jones took the oars. Ruthven lay down in
the bottom of the boat and Frank steered. After rowing for another hour
Frank found that he could no longer keep the boat head to wind. Indeed,
he could not have done so for so long had he not shipped the rudder
and steered the boat with an oar, through a notch cut in the stern for the
purpose. Already the boat shipped several heavy seas, and Ruthven was
kept hard at work baling with a tin can in which they had brought out
bait.
"Ruthven, we must let her run. Put out the other oar, we must watch our
time. Row hard when I give the word."
The maneuver was safely accomplished, and in a minute the boat was
flying before the gale.
"Keep on rowing," Frank said, "but take it easily. We must try and
make for the tail of the sands. I can see the lightship."
Frank soon found that the wind was blowing too directly upon the long
line of sands to enable him to make the lightship. Already, far ahead, a
gray light seemed to gleam up, marking where the sea was breaking
over the dreaded shoal.
"I am afraid it is no use," he said. "Now, boys, we had best, each of us,
say our prayers to God, and prepare to die bravely, for I fear that there
is no hope for us."
There was silence in the boat for the next five minutes, as the boys sat
with their heads bent down. More than one choking sob might have
been heard, had the wind lulled, as they thought of the dear ones at

home. Suddenly there was a flash of light ahead, and the boom of a gun
directly afterwards came upon their ears. Then a rocket soared up into
the air.
"There is a vessel on the sands," Frank exclaimed. "Let us make for her.
If we can get on board we shall have a better chance than here."
The boys again bent to their oars, and Frank tried to steer exactly for
the spot whence the rocket had gone up. Presently another gun flashed
out.
"There she is," he said. "I can see her now against the line of breakers.
Take the oar again, Ruthven. We must bring up under shelter of her
lee."
In another minute or two they were within a hundred yards of the ship.
She was a large vessel, and lay just at the edge of the broken water. The
waves, as they struck her, flew high above her deck. As the boat neared
her a bright light suddenly sprang up. The ship was burning a blue light.
Then a faint cheer was heard.
"They see us," Frank said. "They must think we are the lifeboat. What a
disappointment for them! Now, steady, lads, and prepare to pull her
round the instant we are under her stern. I will go as near as I dare."
Frank could see the people on deck watching the boat. They must have
seen now that she was not the lifeboat; but even in their own danger
they must have watched with intense interest the efforts of the tiny boat,
adrift in the raging sea, to reach them. Frank steered the boat within a
few yards of the stern. Then Jones and Ruthven, who were both rowing
the same side, exerted themselves to the utmost, while Frank pushed
with the steering oar. A minute later, and they lay in comparatively still
water, under the lee of the ship. Two or three ropes