Dunton agreed. Hoppy groped his way to the bow where he crouched unobserved in the gloom. Dunton gave the order to pay out, but just then a curious thing happened. Hoppy drew his keen knife from its sheath and slashed the stout rope in such a manner that he knew it would soon part. On his way aft he managed to have a few words with Jackson. The night was drawing to a close. The first faint streaks of dawn were appearing and the pilot drew Dunton’s attention to them: “Day is coming, Mr. Dunton; I think there’s a slight break in the gale.” And so it seemed. There was a perceptible lessening of the schooner’s motion and Dunton felt relieved. Suddenly a shout that the cable had parted arose and for some time the utmost confusion prevailed. The vessel fell off before the wind which had shifted a point to the north. “Our only chance is to run for it, Mr. Dunton,” cried Hoppy. “I think we had better make for the inlet, though it must be shallow water on the outer bar now!” The storm jib was set and the schooner plunged forward, Hoppy at the wheel. It was now sufficiently clear to distinguish the shore. The appearance of the sky denoted a change near though the gale was still strong. Hoppy held her head in the direction of what he called the inlet. It could not be much of an inlet, was Dunton’s thought, for as far as the eye could range along shore there was nothing but a stretch of surf-beaten beach. “Not much of a harbor, Mayo?” “You will see it better in a short time, Mr. Dunton.” Onward raced the schooner and the sea was surely getting smoother as she approached the land. When about half a mile from it, Hoppy ran her right into the wind’s eye and with a shock the little craft stood still. “What’s that for, Mayo?” demanded Dunton suspiciously. “It means, Mr. Dunton,” replied Hoppy coolly, “that we are aground on the outer bar.” “Then what are we going to do now?” “We were a bit too late to catch enough water for crossing. We must now wait for the next tide to enable us to get off.” “But what’s going to happen meanwhile?” “The schooner will be all right where she is,” replied the pilot. “However, I should advise you to send your men below, Mr. Dunton, so that the people on shore may not get suspicious at seeing such a large crew.” As the vessel was stuck fast in the sand there seemed no alternative but to follow Hoppy’s advice; so, reluctantly, Dunton ordered the men below. Hoppy caught Jackson’s eye and that worthy winked significantly. The convivial tar waved his hand in salute as he followed his mates below. Dunton and his two subordinate officers remained on deck with the pilot.