But who could have dreamt of any one being foolhardy enough to attempt the rescue of a ship in a nutshell that scarcely holds two persons ?" "I pray Heaven that your sleepy-headedness may not result in the loss of human life! You see, my son, that there is no amount of duty, be it ever so trifling in importance, that can be neglected with impunity.
It is the concurrent devotion of each, and the sacrifices of one for another, that constitutes and secures the mutual security.

Society on a small, as on a large scale, is a chain of which each individual is a link, and when one fails the whole is broken." "I will go after him," said Ernest.
"Fritz and I will go with you," added Frank.
"No," said Ernest; "I alone am guilty, and I wish alone to remedy my fault--that is, as far as possible." "I could not hide the canoe," observed Fritz, "but I hid the oars, and I find them in their place." "That, perhaps, will have prevented him embarking," remarked one of the boys.
"A man like Willis," replied Becker, "is not prevented carrying out his intentions by such obstacles; he will have taken the first thing that came to hand; but let us go." "What, father, am I not then to go alone, and so bear the penalty of my own fault ?" "No, Ernest, that would be to inflict two evils upon us instead of one; it is sufficient that you have shown your willingness to do so.
Besides, three will not be over many _to convince_ Willis, even if yet in time." "And mother?
and the ladies ?" inquired Fritz.
"I shall leave Frank and Jack to see to them; a mere obstinate freak, or a catastrophe, it will be time enough, when over, to inform them of this new idea of the Pilot's." "It is something more than an idea this time," remarked Jack.
Just as Becker and his two sons were issuing from the grotto, the report of a cannon-shot resounded through the air.
Awoke and startled by the explosion, Becker's wife and Mrs.Wolston came running towards them.

As for the girls, their guardian angel had too closely enveloped them in its wings to admit of their sleep being disturbed.
"The sloop on the coast!" said Frank; "for the sound is too distinct to come from a distance." "Unless Willis has got upon Shark's Island," objected Fritz, running towards the terrace, armed with a telescope.

"Just so; he is there, I see him distinctly; he is recharging our four-pounder." "God be praised! you relieve my conscience of a great burden," said Ernest, placing his hand on his breast.
"He is going to discharge it," cried Fritz--boom.

Then a second shot reverberated in the air.
"If Captain Littlestone be within hearing of that signal, he will be sure to reply to it." said Becker.