When they reached the lowest point of the cliff, the party were halted and told to lie down and keep themselves in readiness, in case their services should be required.  The officers struggled forward to the edge, and tried to see what was going on down in the bay below; but little could be seen, save the mighty sheets of spray, as the waves struck the cliffs.  Here and there in the wild waters they fancied occasionally that they could see the dark forms of the ships, but even of this they could not have been certain, save for the twinkling lights which rose and fell, and dashed to and fro like fire-flies in their flight.  Now and then the flash of a cannon momentarily showed some ship laboring in the trough of the mountainous sea.

“I believe that is the ‘Black Prince,’” Jack shouted to his friend.  “That big steamer which has been lying there the last week.  If it is, she’s ever so much nearer to shore than she was.”

Suddenly a blue light threw its glare on the sea.  It came from almost under their feet.

“Good heavens, Dick, there is a vessel on the rocks already; and look, a dozen more close in!”

The example was followed, and several other blue lights were burned showing plainly the terrible nature of the scene.  The vessels were wallowing in the tremendous waves.  Many had cut away their masts to relieve the strain on their anchors.  The paddles and screws of the steamers were working at full speed, for the lines of white foam behind them could be plainly seen.  But even this availed them but little, for almost every ship lay nearer to the line of cliffs than she did when night fell; several were close to the foot of the rocks, and the lookers-on noticed that some which had lain near the shore were missing.  On the decks of the ships could be seen numbers of persons holding on to ropes and bulwarks.  Sometimes from the deck of a vessel a rocket soared up, the wind catching it as it rose, and carrying it far inland.

By the captain’s orders several blue lights, which the party had brought down, were burned, to show those on board that their position was perceived, but beyond this nothing could be done.  Presently even above the noise of the gale a tremendous crash was heard, and they fancied that they heard a wild shout come faintly up.

“Can nothing be done?” Jack shouted to his friend.

“Nothing, sir,” an old sailor said close by.  “They are all doomed.  There were over thirty ships there this morning, for I counted them, and I doubt if one will live out the night.”

By this time the sailors, unable to lie inactive, had joined the officers, and all were scattered in groups along the cliff.

“Is there no possible way of getting down near the water?” Jack said.

“I don’t think so, sir; but if it were daylight we might make a shift to try.”

“Let us try, anyhow,” Jack said.

“Oh, there is another!” as another crash was heard above the gale.