"Black as pitch. If we stuck a lantern out on the flying jib-boom, we
should see that far at any rate. But the lead gives deep water."

"Does it?" was the rather scornful rejoinder.

"The blockhead doesn't seem to know yet," growled the captain, as the
other turned away, "that the lead will give you deep water here until
your vessel has her nose upon the cliff."

There was no chance of a pilot on such a night as this promised to be;
but still, in the hope that the wind might carry the sound in under
land, a few shots were fired from the signal-gun.

At last there was no longer any choice left. If they were not to end
upon the rocks that night, they must crowd on more sail, and try at all
hazards to haul off the coast.

The order was accordingly given to shake a reef out, followed by "Haul
in the topsail bow-lines--clap on the topsail halyards, and hoist away!"
and in the darkness might be heard occasionally "halimen-oh!-oh hoi!" as
the sailors worked at the tough and heavy sail, with the cordage all
stiff and swollen with ice and slippery with the rain, the spray driving
in their faces, and the vessel rolling so that sometimes they were
hanging on by the ropes only, when the deck went from under their feet.

Under the fresh weight of sail the vessel careened over, and shot
foaming forward with new life for a moment. The next, the topsail had
burst away from the bolt-ropes with a report as of a cannon-shot, and
she had fallen away into the trough of the sea. The mainstay-sail sheet
parted at the same time, and a deluge of water carried overboard, with