The weather was thick and lowering; the wind rapidly increasing; to half a gale, and the little vessel straining heavily at her anchor.

In heaving up, a sudden jerk broke it short off at the shank, the metal about the broken part proving to have been very indifferent.

She now ran very cautiously and anxiously towards the light, and into the bay, no pilot being in sight.

For some time all went well, and the chief dangers appeared to be over, when suddenly the vessel ran with a heavy shock upon a sandbank, knocking off a large portion of her false keel, and for the moment occasioning intense anxiety to all on board.

Fortunately, however, the bank was but a narrow ridge, and the next sea carried the little vessel safely across it, and out of danger.