“Fasten a line to a keg and throw it in,” Walter shouted.

In a minute, a keg was thrown overboard with a line attached.  As soon as it drifted a little way from the vessel’s side, they hauled it into the boat.

“Now, back, Larry; these waves would sink us in a moment, if we turn our stern to them.”

The wreck lay within a hundred yards of the shore, and the boat backed until close to the line where the waves toppled over in a torrent of foam.

“Now, Larry, keep her steady.  We are as near as we dare go.”

Then Walter stood up in the boat, took the keg and a foot or two of line in his hand, and waited till the next wave passed under the boat.  He swung the keg round his head, and hurled it towards the shore.  Then he dropped into his seat, and gave two or three vigorous strokes, and, when safely beyond the line of breakers, sat quiet and watched the result.

“They have missed it the first time,” he said.  “Look!  They are going to run into the surf for it.”

The group on the shore joined hands, and the next time the keg was borne forward, in the tumble of foam, Considine ran forward and seized it.  The back rush took him from his feet, but the others held on, and before the next wave came, the line was safely on the beach.  A strong cable was soon pulled ashore and firmly fixed.  A light line was attached to it, and the sailors at once began to pass along.

“Shall we turn back now, Master Walter?”

“We will keep near the wreck for a few minutes longer, Larry.  She can’t hold together long, and maybe we can pick somebody up.”

The vessel was indeed breaking up fast.  Her stern was burst in, and the waves, as they poured in at the opening, smashed up the deck.  Many of the crew had been washed overboard, and had instantly disappeared.

As the boat approached the wreck, an officer, who had climbed the shrouds, shouted out: 

“Will your boat hold another?”

“Yes,” Walter shouted back.  “She will hold two more.”

“I will try and swim to you,” the officer said.

He threw off the long cloak, in which he was wrapped, and unbuckled his sword and let it drop, unbuttoned and took off his military coat, and, with some difficulty, got rid of his high boots.

“Can you come a bit nearer?” he shouted.

“We daren’t,” Walter said.  “A touch from one of those floating timbers would send us to the bottom.”

The officer waved his hand, and then sprang head foremost into the sea.  So long was he in the water, that Walter began to think he must have struck against something, and was not coming up again; when suddenly he appeared, within twenty yards of the boat.  They rowed towards him, instantly.

“You must get in over the stern,” Walter said.

The officer was perfectly cool, and, placing his hands on the stern, drew himself partly over it, and Walter, grasping his hand, dragged him in.  No sooner was he in, than Walter again hailed the wreck.