Tom, you and the boy rouse the cable up--get about ten fathoms on deck, and bend it .-- You'll find a bit of seizing and a marling-spike in the locker abaft." The sloop scuddled before the gale, and in less than two hours was close to the headland pointed out by the master.

"Now, Newton, we must hug the point or we shall not fetch--clap on the main sheet here, all of us.

Luff, you may, handsomely .-- That's all right; we are past the Sand-head and shall be in smooth water in a jiffy .-- Steady, so-o .-- Now for a drop of _swizzle,"_ cried Thompson, who considered that he had kept sober quite long enough, and proceeded to the cask of rum lashed to leeward.

As he knelt down to pull out the spile, the sloop which had been brought to the wind, was struck on her broadside by a heavy sea, which careened her to her gunnel: the lashings of the weather cask gave way, and it flew across the deck, jamming the unfortunate Thompson, who knelt against the one to leeward, and then bounding overboard.

The old man gave a heavy groan, and fell upon his back; the man and boy ran to his assistance, and by the directions of Newton, who could not quit the helm, carried him below, and placed him on his bed.