There was no lull in the gale. Indeed, it seemed as though the strength of the wind steadily rose. The lifeboat only crept from the shore on its course to Gull Rocks. Each yard must be fought for by the earnest crew. Occasionally Cap'n Trainor called an encouraging sentence at them. For the most part, however, only the ravening sea roared malice in their ears. Around them the hungry waves leaped and fought for their lives; but the buoyant boat, held true to her course by the skipper, bore up nobly under the strain. They won on, foot by foot. The thunder of the breakers over the reef finally deafened them. The rocking schooner, buffeted by waves that could not drive her completely over the reef, towered finally above the heads of the men in the lifeboat. Cap'n Trainor's straining eyes deciphered her name painted on the bow. He threw a hand upward in a surprised gesture, still clinging to the steering oar with his other hand, and shrieked aloud: "The _Curlew_! By mighty! who'd ha' thought it? 'Tis the _Curlew_." He, too, knew of Cap'n Abe's supposed voyage on the seaweed ship. The oarsmen read the word upon the skipper's lips rather than heard his voice. Two, at least, were shocked by the announcement--Lawford and the storekeeper. There was no opportunity for comment upon this wonder. Skillfully the lifeboat was brought around under the lee of the wreck. Already most of her crew had crept down to the rail and were waiting, half submerged, to drop into the lifeboat. But one figure was still visible high up in the shrouds. When the waves sucked out from under her the keel of the lifeboat almost scratched the reef. Then it rose on a swell to the very rail of the wreck, wedged so tightly on the rock. The castaways came inboard rapidly, bringing their injured skipper with them. The lifeboat was quickly overburdened with human freight. "No more! No more!" shouted Cap'n Trainor. "We'll have to make another trip." "Where's the professor? Bring down the professor! There he is!" yelled the mate of the _Curlew_, who had given his attention to the injured master of the wrecked craft. "Who lashed him fast up there?" There was a movement forward. The storekeeper had got up and pulled a stout-armed member of the _Curlew's_ crew into his place. "Take my oar!" commanded Cap'n Abe. "I got a niece--he's her father. Hi-mighty! I just got to get him aboard!" With an agility that belied his years he leaped for the schooner's rail as the next surge rose. He swarmed inboard and started up the shrouds. Those below remained silent while he climbed. He reached the helpless man, whipped out his knife, cut the lashings. Slight as the storekeeper seemed, his muscles were of steel. As though the half-conscious professor were a child, he lowered him to the slanting deck. "Only room for one o' you!" roared Cap'n Trainor. "Only one! We're overloaded as 'tis. Better wait."