ADVANTAGE OF LOSING MY SHOES.

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One I recognised as our old mate, the cause of our disaster. He had contrived to kick off his shoes, and was swimming towards the rock. Poor old man, he struggled hard for life. In a moment I forgot all the mischief he had caused, and considered how I might help to save him. Undoing my neck handkerchief, I fastened it to another I had in my pocket, and secured the two to the sleeve of my jacket. 1 watched him anxiously as he drew near, crying out to encourage him. Then I lowered the handkerchiefs, and as a sea washed him up towards the rock he caught hold of them, and with great care, lest we should both fall in, I helped him up the side of the rock. I had not time to say anything, for I saw another person struggling in the water. I was afraid that he would never reach the rock, for his strength seemed almost exhausted. I shouted to him. He looked up. It was Charley Iffley. I own that I was now doubly anxious for his safety. Just then an oar washed by him. He was just able to grasp it. It enabled him to recover his strength, and in a short time another sea drove him close up to the rock. I hove the end of my handkerchief to him, he caught it, and the old mate and I leaning over, hauled him, almost exhausted, out of the reach of the sea. We looked round. We were the only survivors out of all the crew. The strong men had lost their lives. The oldest and weakest, and the two youngest, had alone been saved. Whether we should ultimately escape with our lives seemed, however, very doubtful. There was barely space enough for us to sit clear out of the wash of the sea; and should the tide be rising we might be washed off. We found, however, that the tide was falling, and this restored our hopes of being

saved. As the tide ebbed, the water got a good deal smoother, and the weather once more clearing, we were able to consider our position and what was best to be done. We judged that we were three quarters of a mile from the island of St. Mary's, but we could make out no habitations, and we thought it very probable night might come on before anybody would see us, while we felt if we remained on the rock that we could scarcely hope to survive.

We were already benumbed with the cold, and almost perishing with hunger. "We must try and

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He looked

reach the island,” said Mr. Cole; are you inclined to try it, lads?" We of course said we were. at his watch, which being an old silver hunting one, was in spite of the wet still going, and found that it was two o'clock. "In another half hour we must make the attempt," said he ; "so, lads, prepare as best you can. It wont be an easy job." The time to wait seemed very long. We watched the tide ebbing, and rock after rock appearing. At last he said, "We cannot hope for a better opportunity than now. I'll lead the way. Lend me a hand, lads, if I want it.”

We promised him we would, and slipping down the rock on the land-side a much greater distance than we had come up, we found our feet touching bottom. There was no sea to speak of, so on we went pretty confidently. The old man went on very cautiously, but Charley Iffley thinking that we might move faster, said he would go ahead. He did, and went head under also, immediately afterwards. He came up again directly, and struck out towards the next rock. We took to swimming at once, and save the loss of breath, we all reached the next rock without difficulty. After resting a little,

AGAIN PRESERVED.

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we started again. We had no wish to remain longer than we could help with a north-easterly gale blowing on us in the month of March. The cold, Yet at the time I fancy I

too, was very bitter.

scarcely thought about it. Thus on we went, sometimes wading, sometimes swimming, and sometimes scrambling along the ledge which the receding water had left bare. Often we had to assist each other, and I believe none of us alone could have performed the task. Once Mr. Cole was very nearly giving in, and twice Charley declared he could not go on, and must stay on the rock where we were resting till we could send him aid. We soon showed him that the rock would be covered long before assistance could reach him, and in another instant he was as ready as either of us to proceed. Once I almost gave in, but my companions roused me up, and again I set forward with renewed strength.

It was not, however, till six o'clock that evening that we reached the shore, and as we found ourselves on dry land we staggered up the beach, and the old mate fell down on his knees, and in a way I did not expect of him, thanked the Almighty for the mercy he had shown us. It was a wild desolate place, with only high rocks about on every side, without trees, and no roads that we could discover to guide us to any habitation. We went on a little way, and then the mate and Charley said they could go no further. I felt my strength almost exhausted, but I knew that it would not do for all of us to give in, so I roused myself to exertion. That I might try and learn our position before night completely overtook us, I climbed up to the top of the highest rock I could find and looked around me. Not a habitation or a sign of one could