At the same moment the rope in the stern was cut loose, and the boat swung round wildly, just in time to clear the mast as it fell with a terrific crash overboard.

But our men?
Four of them landed safely in our midst; but the others?
Oh! how our hearts turned cold as we saw that two were missing, and knew that they mast be in that boiling, furious water! We sprang wildly to the side, in the mad hope of seeing them, or perhaps even reaching them a hand but a stern order from the coxswain sent us back to our places.
A minute of awful suspense followed.

The oars were put up, and, still held by her stern cable, the boat was brought up again alongside.

In a minute a shout from the prow proclaimed that one at least of the missing ones was discovered, and presently a dripping form clambered over the side of the boat close to us and coolly sat down to his oar, as if nothing had happened.
Another shout--this time not from the boat, but from the water.

Our other man had been carried the wrong side of us by the wave, and could not reach us.