Having caused one end of the rope to be made fast round his body, and committing himself to the protection of the Almighty, he plunged into the sea, and struck out in the direction of the opposite shore.

It was an awful moment to those who were left behind; and in breathless suspense they waited the result of the daring attempt.  All depended upon the strength of his arm.  At one moment he was seen rising on the crest of the wave, at the next he disappeared in the trough of the sea; but in spite of the raging surf, and of every other obstacle, he reached the shore, and an inspiring cheer announced his safety to his comrades.

As soon as he had recovered his breath and strength, he went to the nearest point opposite the rock, and, watching his opportunity, he cast one end of the line across to his companions.  Fortunately it reached the rock, and was gladly seized, but it proved to be only long enough to allow of one man holding it on the shore, and another on the rock, at arm’s length.  It may be imagined with what joy this slender means of deliverance was welcomed by all.  The tide had made rapid advances; the waves, as if impatient for their prey, threw the white surf aloft, and dashed over the rock.

Would that we could do justice to the noble courage and conduct displayed by the crew of the Drake.  Instead of rushing to the rope, as many would have done under similar circumstances, not a man moved until he was commanded to do so by Captain Baker.  Had the slightest hesitation appeared on the part of the commander, or any want of presence of mind in the men, a tumultuous rush would have ensued, the rope, held as it was with difficulty by the outstretched hand, would inevitably have been lost in the struggle, and then all would have perished.

But good order, good discipline, and good feeling triumphed over every selfish fear and natural instinct of self-preservation, and to the honour of British sailors be it recorded, that each individual man of the crew, before he availed himself of the means of rescue, urged his captain to provide for his own safety first, by leading the way.  But Captain Baker turned a deaf ear to every persuasion, and gave but one answer to all—­’I will never leave the rock until every soul is safe.’

In vain the men redoubled their entreaties that he would go; they were of no avail; the intrepid officer was steadfast in his purpose.  There was no time for further discussion or delay.  One by one the men slipped from the rock upon the rope, and by this assistance forty-four out of fifty succeeded in gaining the opposite shore.  Unfortunately, amongst the six who remained, one was a woman.  This poor creature, completely prostrate from the sufferings she had endured, lay stretched upon the cold rock almost lifeless.  To desert her was impossible; to convey her to the shore seemed equally impossible.  Each moment of delay was fraught with destruction.  A brave fellow, in the generosity of despair, when his turn