The ship, left to itself, fell off rapidly before the wind.

Bentley jumped to seize the helm.
"Flow the head sheets there!" cried the lieutenant; "lively! Aft here and haul in the spanker! Brail up the foresail! Down, hard down with the helm!" There was another broadside from the heavy guns of the frigate.

Talbot replied with his stern-chaser, and a cloud of splinters showed that the shot took effect, whereat the men at the gun cheered and loaded, and then crash went the mizzen topgallant mast above their heads! "Lively, men!" shouted Seymour, "we must get on the wind again or we are lost." "Breakers on the starboard bow!" shrieked the lookout on the forecastle suddenly.

"Breakers on the port bow!" His voice ran aft in a shrill scream, fraught with terror, "Breakers ahead!" "Down, hard down with the helm, Bentley," said Seymour, himself springing over to assist the old man at the wheel.
But Bentley raised his hand and kept the wheel steady.

"Too late, sir, for that," he cried, "we are in the pass.