Michael now started up, and sprang to the door; but Amy ran after him, and held him back. "Oh, stay, my dear boy," she cried; "don't go off to sea! Don't let me see another child perish before these old eyes!" "No," said Michael, turning round, "I will not disobey you; besides, I have not experience enough to be of any great use. Our brave pilots would help them, if help were possible." "See, brother!" said James, "there lies the ship; she is beating on the Barnet-reef, sure enough; and yet the moon shines bright through the storm." "Yes," said Michael; "and could they have got a pilot that knew the coast, they might have been saved. Look! they are putting out boats. See! There are two!" "Where? where?" asked James: "the white flashing billows dazzle my eyes. I can see but one little black speck dancing among the waves." "Oh, yes!" said Amy, "even I can see two; but they will never reach the shore. See, there goes down one of them!" "No, no! I hope not," said James; "it is only hidden for a moment between the high waves." "I tell you it is gone," said Amy. "Alas! I know that shocking sight too well?--Don't I _know_ what it is to see a boat swallowed by the sea? Come in, boys, or I shall think I see your father again washed on shore at my feet." "Go you in," said Michael; "but I will stay and see if indeed some one be thrown on shore; for we may give timely help." As he spoke, he plainly discovered some one struggling with the waves at a little distance. The brothers hastened to the spot just as the man was thrown with violence on the sands by the huge breakers; they seized and dragged him out of the reach of the waves, and Amy ran out of the cottage to help them. "Is he dead?" said she, fearfully. "I am afraid," said Michael, "that the waves, in throwing him ashore, have beaten the breath out of him; but he was alive just now, for I saw him struggle with the breakers." They carried the poor man into the cottage, and tried every means in their power to revive him; but Amy had nothing better than a little elder wine to give him. This she hastened to warm; and James ran to the town to borrow or buy a little brandy, and to get medical assistance. He soon procured the liquor; but the doctor was so busy attending other sufferers who had been washed ashore, that he could not leave them. James thought it best to return quickly with the spirits; and he had the pleasure to see the person they had saved sitting in the chimney-corner; and after he had taken the brandy which James had brought, he seemed considerably revived.