thrust our little boat without its being dashed to pieces.

"Show a little bit more sail," cried Jack, as we swept past the
weather side of the rock with fearful speed.

"Ay, ay," answered Peterkin, hoisting about a foot more of our
sail.

Little though the addition was it caused the boat to lie over and
creak so loudly, as we cleft the foaming waves, that I expected to
be upset every instant; and I blamed Jack in my heart for his
rashness. But I did him injustice, for, although during two
seconds the water rushed in-board in a torrent, he succeeded in
steering us sharply round to the leeward side of the rock, where
the water was comparatively calm, and the force of the breeze
broken.

"Out your oars now, lads; that's well done. Give way!" We obeyed
instantly. The oars splashed into the waves together. One good
hearty pull, and we were floating in a comparatively calm creek
that was so narrow as to be barely able to admit our boat. Here we
were in perfect safety, and, as we leaped on shore and fastened our
cable to the rocks, I thanked God in my heart for our deliverance
from so great danger. But, although I have said we were now in
safety, I suspect that few of my readers would have envied our
position. It is true we had no lack of food, but we were drenched
to the skin; the sea was foaming round us and the spray flying over
our heads, so that we were completely enveloped, as it were, in
water; the spot on which we had landed was not more than twelve
yards in diameter, and from this spot we could not move without the