You keep close to me, Gerald, and when you want aid I will assist you as far as I can.

You swim fairly, but scarce well enough, unaided, to get through that surf yonder." The men, seeing that what appeared to be certain destruction stared them in the face, now shook hands all round; and then, commending their souls to God, sat down and waited for the shock.
When it came, it was tremendous.

The masts snapped at the board, like rotten sticks.

The vessel shivered from stem to stern and, drawing back for an instant, was again cast down with terrible force; and, as if struck by lightning, parted amidships, and then seemed to fall all to pieces, like a house of cards.
Ned and Gerald were standing, hand in hand, when the vessel struck; and as she went to pieces, and they were precipitated into the water, Ned still kept close to his friend, swimming side by side with him.

They soon neared the edge of the line where the waves broke upon the rocks.