He was right; it was Ben the fisherman who had put in an appearance, market basket in hand. "Marion! Jack! Am dat yo'?" came in an anxious voice. "Yes, Ben!" cried both. "What brought you?" continued the boy. "I dun thought yo' was a-wantin' ob Ole Ben," grinned the colored man. "I seed yo' rowin' off an' I didn't see yo' cum back, so I says to myself, 'Da is stuck fast on de wreck.' An' den I says, 'Da aint got nuffin to eat.' So ober I comes, an' wid a basketful of good t'ings from de plantation." And he held up the market basket. He was soaked from the rain, and the water ran from his clothing in a stream. "Ben, you are a jewel!" burst out Marion and patted his wet coat-sleeve affectionately. At this the old negro grinned broadly. He had always been a privileged character on the Ruthven plantation, and being set free had not ended his affection for his former mistress and her children. "It was very kind to come over," said Jack. "Does mother know we are here?" "I dun left word dat I was comin' ober an' dat I thought yo' was yeah, sah," answered Ben. He had brought all the good things necessary, along with plates, cups, knives and forks, and soon had the spread ready for them. Then he went off to another part of the wreck to wring out his wet garments. "It was very nice of Old Ben to come to us," said Marion, while eating. "It must have been no easy matter to row from the shore to the rocks." "Ben is as good a boatman as there is in these parts, Marion. It was kind, and he ought to be rewarded for it." "Mamma will reward him, beyond a doubt." The storm kept increasing in violence, and before the strange meal was disposed of the thunder and lightning were almost incessant. Ben had brought a candle along--knowing the darkness inside of the wreck--and this was all the light they possessed, outside of what Nature afforded. Ben was just putting the dishes back into the basket when there came an extra heavy flash of lightning, followed immediately by a rending clap of thunder which almost paralyzed Marion and Jack. There was a strange smell in the air, and both found their blood tingling in a manner that was new to them. "The wreck--it's been struck by lightning!" gasped Jack, when he could speak. "Dat's a fac'!" came from Old Ben. "It was jess like de crack ob doom, wasn't it?" He ran on deck, and Jack followed him, with Marion on the bottom of the companion way, not knowing whether to go up or remain below. The bolt had struck the wreck near the stern, ripping off a large part of the woodwork, and had passed along to one side. Just below the deck line a lively fire was starting up. "De wrack am gwine to be burnt up at las'!" ejaculated Old Ben. "We has got to git out, Massah Jack!" "Come, Marion!" called back the boy. "It's too bad we've got to go out in the rain, but I reckon we can be thankful that our lives have been spared."