"In the bay beyond that lies Dunluce.

If we be driven in there, Heaven help us indeed!" "I would as soon perish there as anywhere else." "Talk not of perishing, fool, while a hope remains! Bid the Don cut away his poles forthwith.

They are worse than useless now." So, one after another the stately masts of the _Gerona_ went by the board, and the ease their going gave us, added to the fresh vigour of the rowers, helped us, as Ludar foretold, round the rough little head of Ramore.
No sooner had we passed it than the wind and current together got hold of us again and swept us in betwixt the islands of the Skerries and the mainland.

Not even twice the number of rowers could have saved us then.
"Listen!" said Ludar presently.
I listened, and could hear ahead of me a thunder deeper and more awful than any we had yet passed.
"What is it ?" I asked.
"My father's castle," said he.

"We are going home with a vengeance now!" Scarce a man remained at the oars.