The storm now appeared to lull a little and in a few minutes (about half-past five A.M.) it suddenly dropped.

The men now looked out again and I could hear Ruston saying, "I believe we are now safe, Sir;" and I immediately ordered that two men should go off and relieve Mr.Smith and Mr.Walker.They evidently feared to make the attempt and said they could not swim, which was true as far as some of them were concerned.

I then ordered successively three men who I knew could swim to take advantage of the lull and gain the boat: they all attempted it, but before they got clear of the reef their hearts failed them, and they declared they could not contend with the waves.
RENEWAL OF THE STORM.
Just as the last man had failed, the wind, which had hitherto been from the south-east, shifted instantaneously to the north-west.

We all quailed or fell before it, for it came with sudden and indescribable violence; the boat appeared to hesitate for one moment, in the next she came dancing wildly in on the shore.

The men reached her as well as they could and we dragged her up.