The progress of the boat was followed as far as was possible by the crowd; and when they could go no farther, every sheltered spot was seized upon as a coign of vantage from which to watch the saving of the doomed crew. Leslie was standing close to the harbour wall, sheltering his face with his hands as he watched the life-boat fast nearing the mouth of the harbour, where the tug of war would commence, when he felt a hand laid upon his arm. He turned sharply, to find Madelaine at his elbow, her hood drawn over her head and tightly secured beneath her chin. He hardly saw her face, though, for close beside her stood another closely-hooded figure, whose face was streaming with the spray, while strand after strand of her dark hair had been torn from its place by the wind, and refused to be controlled. "Miss Van Heldre! Miss Vine!" "Yes. Where is my father?" "Here; talking to this coastguardsman." "And I thought we had lost him," murmured Madelaine. "But is it wise of you two ladies?" said Leslie, as he grasped Louise's hand for a moment. "The storm is too terrible." "We could not rest indoors," said Louise. "My father is down here, is he not?" "I have not seen him. You want some better shelter." "No, no; don't think of us," said Louise excitedly; "but if you can help in any way." "You know I will," said Leslie earnestly. "Here, what are you two girls doing?" said a quick, angry voice. "Louie, I'm sure this is no place for you." Harry spoke to his sister, but his eyes were fixed upon those of Leslie, who, however, declined his challenge, as it seemed, to quarrel, and glanced at the young man's companion. At that moment the brothers Vine came up, and there was no farther excuse for Harry's fault-finding objections. "Can't you young fellows do anything to help?" said Uncle Luke. "I wish you would tell us what to do, Mr Vine," said Leslie coldly. Just then Van Heldre turned to, and joined them. "He is afraid the distance is too far," he said dreamily, as if in answer to a question. "For the boat, Mr Van Heldre?" cried Louise. "No, no; for the rocket apparatus. Ah! Vine," he continued, as he saw his old friend, "how helpless we are in such a storm!" No more was said. It was no time for words. The members of the two families stood together in a group watching the progress of the boat, and even Aunt Marguerite's cold and sluggish blood was moved enough to draw her to the window, through whose spray and salt-blurred panes she could dimly see the tossing light of the brig. It was indeed no time for words, and even the very breath was held, to be allowed to escape in a low hiss of exultation as the life-boat was seen to rise suddenly and swiftly up a great bank of water, stand out upon its summit for a few moments, and then plunge down out of sight as the wave came on, deluged the point, and roared and tumbled over in the mouth of the harbour.