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The sky grew darker and darker。 It was only by straining our eyes through the unnatural twilight that we could keep the Dolphin in sight。 The figure of Binny Wallace was no longer visible； for the boat itself had dwindled to a mere white dot on the black water。 Now we lost it； and our hearts stopped throbbing； and now the speck appeared again； for an instant； on the crest of a high wave。
Finally； it went out like a spark； and we saw it no more。 Then we gazed at each other； and dared not speak。
Absorbed in following the course of the boat； we had scarcely noticed the huddled inky clouds that sagged down all around us。 From these threatening masses； seamed at intervals with pale lightning； there now burst a heavy peal of thunder that shook the ground under our feet。 A sudden squall struck the sea； ploughing deep white furrows into it； and at the same instant a single piercing shriek rose above the tempest…the frightened cry of a gull swooping over the island。 How it startled us！
It was impossible any longer to keep our footing on the beach。 The wind and the breakers would have swept us into the ocean if we had not clung to each other with the desperation of drowning men。 Taking advantage of a momentary lull； we crawled up the sands on our hands and knees； and； pausing in the lee of the granite ledge to gain breath； returned to the camp； where we found that the gale had snapped all the fastenings of the tent but one。 Held by this； the puffed…out canvas swayed in the wind like a balloon。 It was a task of some difficulty to secure it； which we did by beating down the canvas with the oars。
After several trials； we succeeded in setting up the tent on the leeward side of the ledge。 Blinded by the vivid flashes of lightning； and drenched by the rain； which fell in torrents； we crept； half dead with fear and anguish； under our flimsy shelter。 Neither the anguish nor the fear was on our own account； for we were comparatively safe； but for poor little Binny Wallace； driven out to sea in the merciless gale。 We shuddered to think of him in that frail shell； drifting on and on to his grave； the sky rent with lightning over his head； and the green abysses yawning beneath him。 We fell to crying； the three of us； and cried I know not how long。
Meanwhile the storm raged with augmented fury。 We were obliged to hold on to the ropes of the tent to prevent it blowing away。 The spray from the river leaped several yards up the rocks and clutched at us malignantly。 The very island trembled with the concussions of the sea beating upon it； and at times I fancied that it had broken loose from its foundation； and was floating off with us。 The breakers； streaked with angry phosphorus； were fearful to look at。
The wind rose higher and higher； cutting long slits in the tent； through which the rain poured incessantly。 To complete the sum of our miseries； the night was at hand。 It came down suddenly； at last； like a curtain； shutting in Sandpeep island from all the world。
It was a dirty night； as the sailors say。 The darkness was something that could be felt as well as seen…it pressed down upon one with a cold； clammy touch。 Gazing into the hollow blackness； all sorts of imaginable shapes seemed to start forth from vacancy…brilliant colors； stars； prisms； and dancing lights。 What boy； lying awake at night； has not amused or terrified himself by peopling the spaces around his bed with these phenomena of his own eyes？
〃I say；〃 whispered Fred Langdon； at length； clutching my hand； 〃don't you see things…out there…in the dark？' 20
〃Yes； yes…Binny Wallace's face！〃
I added to my own nervousness by making this avowal； though for the last ten minutes I had seen little besides that star…pale face with its angelic hair and brows。 First a slim yellow circle； like the nimbus round the moon； took shape and grew sharp against the darkness； then this faded gradually； and there was the Face； wearing the same sad； sweet look it wore when he waved his hand to us across the awful water。 This optical illusion kept repeating itself。
〃And I too；〃 said Adams。 〃I see it every now and then； outside there。 What wouldn't I give if it really was poor little Wallace looking in at us！ O boys； how shall we dare to go back to the town without him？ I've wished a hundred times； since we've been sitting here； that I was in his place； alive or dead！〃
We dreaded the approach of morning as much as we longed for it。 The morning would tell us all。 Was it possible for the Dolphin to outride such a storm？ There was a light…house on Mackerel Reef； which lay directly in the course the boat bad taken； when it disappeared。 If the Dolphin had caught on this reef； perhaps Binny Wallace was safe。 Perhaps his cries had been heard by the keeper of the light。 The man owned a lifeboat； and had rescued several people。 Who could tell？
Such were the questions we asked ourselves again and again； as we lay in each other's arms waiting for daybreak。 What an endless night it was！ I have known months that did not seem so long。
Our position was irksome rather than perilous； for the day was certain to bring us relief from the town； where our prolonged absence； together with the storm； had no doubt excited the liveliest alarm for our safety。 But the cold； the darkness； and the suspense were hard to bear。
Our soaked jackets bad chilled us to the bone。 To keep warm； we lay huddled together so closely that we could bear our hearts beat above the tumult of sea and sky。
After a while we grew very hungry； not having broken our fast since early in the day。 The rain had turned the hard…tack into a sort of dough； but it was better than nothing。
We used to laugh at Fred Langdon for always carrying in his pocket a small vial of essence of peppermint or sassafras； a few drops of which； sprinkled on a lump of loaf…sugar； he seemed to consider a great luxury。 I don't know what would have become of us at this crisis； if it hadn't been for that omnipresent bottle of hot stuff。 We poured the stinging liquid over our sugar； which bad kept dry in a sardine…box； and warmed ourselves with frequent doses。
After four or five hours the rain ceased； the wind died away to a moan； and the sea…no longer raging like a maniac…sobbed and sobbed with a piteous human voice all along the coast。 And well it might； after that night's work。 Twelve sail of the Gloucester fishing fleet had gone down with every soul on board； just outside of Whale's…back Light。 Think of the wide grief that follows in the wake of one wreck； then think of the despairing women who wrung their hands and wept； the next morning； in the streets of Gloucester； Marblehead； and Newcastle！
Though our strength was nearly spent； we were too cold to sleep。 Once I sunk into a troubled doze； when I seemed to bear Charley Marden's parting words； only it was the Sea that said them。 After that I threw off the drowsiness whenever it threatened to overcome me。
Fred Langdon was the earliest to discover a filmy； luminous streak in the sky； the first glimmering of sunrise。
〃Look； it is nearly daybreak！〃
While we were following the direction of his finger； a sound of distant oars fell on our ears。
We listened breathlessly； and as the dip of the blades became more audible； we discerned two foggy lights； like will…o'the…wisps； floating on the river。
Running down to the water's edge； we hailed the boats with all our might。 The call was heard； for the oars rested a moment in the row…locks； and then pulled in towards the island。
It was two boats from the town； in the foremost of which we could now make out the figures of Captain Nutter and Binny Wallace's father。 We shrunk back on seeing him。
'Thank God！〃 cried Mr。 Wallace； fervently； as he leaped from the wherry without waiting for the bow to touch the beach。
But when he saw only three boys standing on the sands； his eye wandered restlessly about in quest of the fourth； then a deadly pallor overspread his features。
Our story was soon told。 A solemn silence fell upon the crowd of rough boatmen gathered round； interrupted only by a stifled sob from one poor old man； who stood apart from the rest。
The sea was still running too high for any small boat to venture out； so it was arranged that the wherry should take us back to town； leaving the yawl； with a picked crew； to hug the island until daybreak； and then set forth in search of the Dolphin。
Though it was barely sunrise when we reached town； there were a great many people assembled at the landing eager for intelligence from missing boats。 Two picnic parties had started down river the day before； just previous to the gale； and nothing had been beard of them。 It turned out that the pleasure…seekers saw their danger in time； and ran ashore on one of the least exposed islands； where they passed the night。 Shortly after our own arrival they appeared off Rivermouth； much to the joy of their friends； in two shattered； dismasted boats。
The excitement over； I was in a forlorn state； physically and mentally。 Captain Nutter put me to bed between hot blankets； and sent Kitty Collins for the doctor。 I was wandering in my mind； and fancied myself still on Sandpeep Island： now we were building our brick…stove to cook the chowder； and； in my de