If we bring her to the wind we may run some distance along the coast before we are driven ashore, and may perceive some spot towards which we may direct her with a chance of making land ere she goes to pieces." The sail was still further lessened and the ship's head brought round parallel with the coast.
The Dragon laboured tremendously as the sea struck her full on the beam, and every wave flooded her low waist.

Each sea which struck her lifted her bodily to leeward, and for every foot she sailed forward she was driven one towards the coast.

This was now but three miles distant, and another hour would ensure her destruction; for none there hoped that the anchors, even should they find bottom, could hold her for an instant in the teeth of the gale.

Every eye was directed towards the shore, but no break could be seen in the wall of rock which rose almost perpendicularly from the water.
"I fear it is hopeless," Edmund said to Egbert; "the strongest swimmer would be dashed to pieces in an instant against those rocks." "He would indeed," Egbert replied.

"I wish now that we had boldly engaged the four Danish ships.