ASCENSION. 253

“Let go your gaskets and foretopsails!” Ben shouted,
as he sprang forward, crying to his “chief mate,” «Hard
down your helm.”

For a few moments all was confusion,

The brig was rapidly drifting down on the reef, which
extended a quarter of a mile from the easternmost point
of the harbour, and even had there been a full crew on
board, matters would have been no less dangerous, for
the four sailors and the captain worked as possibly they
never had done before, after which they could only stand
by to wait until time should show whether she was swing-
ing clear of the frowning rocks.

During ten minutes disaster seemed inevitable; then
the light winds carried the brig safely beyond the threat-
ening reef, and, with hardly a fathom to spare, she bounded
away into the darkness of night from the haven where it
had been hoped she would receive the necessary addition
to her crew and stores.

“ Are you not going to put about ?”” Miss Dunham asked,
anxiously, as the moments passed, and Ben stood on the
quarter-deck in silence.

“That's exactly what I am considering now.”

“Considering? Why, there’s no question about it, is
there?”

“I’m not so certain. It will take us all night to work
back, and, short-handed as we are, I doubt if it can be
done in that time. We run the risk of fooling around
here two or three days, and then putting the little craft
on the rocks after all.” ,