“Here!” said Charlie, struggling to free himself from the embraces of a stout old Frenchwoman, who, wild with terror, was choking the lad as she clung round his neck and implored him to be her preserver--“Here! Frank, we’re aground, I think; I want to get on deck and make myself useful, if this old woman would let me go!” Charlie freed himself from the venerable dame’s embrace, but she clung hard to his garments, and he was forced to slip out of the dressing-gown which he had put on at the first moment of alarm, and leaving it in her grasp, to make his escape clad only in his shirt and trousers. When he reached the deck he found Frank already there, having put himself under the captain’s orders, and now lending his assistance to restore discipline as far as possible, and to clear the wreck. The huge ship heaved and shivered in her throes, as wave after wave washed her farther on to the shoal; the fog, too, added to the confusion of the scene, and as it became doubtful whether her timbers could stand against the violence of these successive shocks, even the sturdy seamen began to hint at her going to pieces--and the cry, though none knew whence it first arose, thrilled from stem to stern, “The boats! the boats! Launch the boats!” “By Him that made me! I’ll strike the first man dead that stirs without orders,” cried the captain, heaving a broad axe above his head, his voice rising through the confusion of the crew and the dash of the leaping waves. “Can the boats live in such a sea?” whispered Frank, as he stood by the captain’s side, prepared to lend him any assistance he might require. “Undoubtedly, sir!” was the reply; “it’s our only chance. We’ll get the women and children in first. Mr. Hardingstone, you’re a _man_! take charge of the larboard boat--let no man into it without orders--we may save them all yet!” and the captain sprang to the starboard boat, laid hold of the “davits,” and sang out, “Lower away, men, easy!” whilst Frank, in a hurried whisper, gave his orders to Charlie, who was as cool as a cucumber throughout. “Charlie, keep the hatchway with the steward--he’s a bold fellow--don’t let a single man up till the women and children are all on deck. If any fellow runs rusty, _knock him down_!”