“A schooner, hard and fast on the reef, with her foremast gone by the board!” shouted the second officer. “How does she bear?” “Dead ahead! She is a topsail schooner, with her foremast alongside.” “Steady, Spokes. Twist, go out on the forecastle, and fire two guns,” said the captain. “On deck, sir! The fog is lifting,” added Mr. Gaskette. “And a half twelve!” cried one of the leadsmen, and the other presently repeated it. The commander rang one of the engine bells, and spoke through the trumpet to the engineer, directing him to reduce the speed still further. Briggs, the boatswain, was ordered to have two of the life-boats in readiness to lower into the water. “The fog is lifting again!” shouted Louis, who stood at the open window in the pilot-house. “I can see the vessel, though she don’t look much like the Maud;” and for the moment he dared to hope that it was not she. “I can see her distinctly now, and I have no doubt she is the Maud,” replied the captain, who was giving his whole attention to the sounding. “You can see her foremast with the yards on it, hanging over the side. She must have ground out the step of her foremast when she went on the rocks. It is all up with her, for she can never get out of that scrape.” “But my poor mother,” groaned Louis. “Don’t be alarmed yet, Mr. Belgrave. You can see her people on the deck, and they are all safe so far, I have no doubt whatever. The steamer is not more than half a mile from her, and we can take off her crew and passengers without any difficulty,” replied the commander in assuring tones, which greatly strengthened the owner. The weather was clearer than at any time before during the morning, and Louis directed the glass in the pilot-house to the wreck. He had no trouble in making out every person on the wreck. His mother, supported by Felix McGavonty, was holding on at the lee side. The hull had evidently twisted around so that she was broadside to the fresh gale, for she could not have gone on the reef in the direction she was now headed. The sea was making a clean breach over her, and she seemed to be smothered in the torrents of white spray that swept across her. “By the mark, ten!” shouted the leadsmen one after the other. At this report the captain rang the great gong bell in the engine-room, and the engineer promptly stopped the screw. The wind seemed to be increasing in force, and the sea was very heavy. As soon as the steamer lost her headway, she began to roll violently. The captain started the engine again, brought the ship about, heading her into the wind, and gave her headway enough to keep her up to the sea. Her position became much easier at once.