There was a sudden roar ahead, and a gleam of long lines of broken water.
"Pull for your lives!" shouted the captain, "or we shall be on the Ras de Catte!" It was too late.

The treacherous current swept them on to the reef.
There was a sudden tossing of the "White Ship," then a great shock as she struck--then a cry of terror from two hundred lips.
King Henry in his vessel, three leagues away, heard that sudden awful cry across the still waters.

But little guessed he that it was the death cry of his own beloved children.
Every man on board the "White Ship" was startled by that shock into instant sobriety.

The brave Fitz-Stephen left the now useless helm, and rushed to where the prince, entrusted to his care, was clinging to the mast of the fast-filling vessel.

With his own hand he cut loose the small boat which she carried, and by sheer force placed William in it, and a few of the crew.
"Row for the shore!" he shouted to the men, waving his hand; "lose not a moment!" William, stupefied and bewildered, sat motionless and speechless.
The men had already dipped their oars, and the frail boat was already clear of the sinking vessel, when there fell on the prince's ear the piercing shriek of a girl.
Looking behind him, he saw his poor sister clinging to the deck of the doomed ship, and stretching a hand appealingly in the direction of his boat.
In an instant his senses returned to him.
"Put back, men!" he cried, frantically.
"It is certain death!" cried one of the crew.
"Must William the Atheling order a thing twice ?" thundered the prince, in a tone so terrible, that the men immediately turned and made for the wreck.
"My sister!" shouted William, as they came under the spot where Adela clung; "throw yourself into my arms!" She did so; but, alas! at the same moment, fifty more, in the desperation of terror, jumped too, and the little boat, with all that were in her, turned over, and was seen no more.
Then the waters poured over the "White Ship," and with a great plunge that gallant vessel went down.
With her went down all the souls she carried save three.