shout brought my thoughts back to the sad reality of our own position. "The light! the light!--there it is--I see it clearly," exclaimed Jerry, whose bright eyes had been constantly on the watch for the looked-for beacon. "Where? where?" we all simultaneously cried out. "At a right angle with the boat's keel, as she now lies, on the port-side. There--there, it is quite bright." All of us looked intently in the direction he indicated. There was the light--there could be no doubt about it, beaming forth cheerfully through the darkness. It was still a mile or more to the south along the shore past which we were drifting, and we certainly were nearly a mile, if not a full mile, from the coast. "How near do you judge that we shall drift to the station?" asked Cousin Silas of Burkett. He considered a little--"Not much nearer than we now are," he answered. "What chance, then, have we of making ourselves heard, and getting help from them?" again asked Cousin Silas. "None," said Burkett, in a sad tone. "Then it must be done!" exclaimed Cousin Silas, in a firm tone. "Friends, one of us must endeavour to reach the shore by swimming. The risk is great. It is a long way, but it is the only means by which we may be saved. The strongest and best swimmer must make the attempt." "I wish that I were a better swimmer than I am," said Burkett, "but I do not think I could do it." "I am but a poor one--I know that I could not," added Kilby with a sigh. "I'll try, Mr Brand," cried Jerry; "I can float for ever so long, if I can't swim all the way." "I'll go with you," said I, preparing to throw off my clothing as Jerry was doing. "No, no; neither of you lads must go," exclaimed Cousin Silas, eagerly. "I was prepared for the risk when I made the offer. Harry, tell my mother, if you escape, how I thought of her to the last. Never forget what I have just been talking to you about. Gerard, your father will understand that I died in the discharge of my duty. Friends, good-bye; I trust that God, in his good pleasure, will enable me to bring you Help." Saying these words, he handed us his clothes, which we hung across the keel of the boat, and then he slid off into the dark water, and struck out directly for the shore. As soon as he was gone, old Surley seemed resolved to follow his example; and though we tried to hold him, he dashed off into the water, and away he went, swimming quietly by the side of Mr Brand. "One good thing is, the old dog will perhaps help him if he gets tired," remarked Jerry. "I've heard of them doing such things."