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Guy conducted the boys out of sight of the sea； and； to console them；
gave them so much more use of the gun than usual； that it might be
considered as a wonder that he escaped being shot。 Yet it did not
prevent a few sighs being spent on the boating。
'Can't you forget it？' said Guy； smiling。 'You have no loss； after
all； for we are likely to have no boating weather this long time。
Hark！ don't you hear the ground…swell？'
'What's that？' said the boys； standing still to listen to the distant
surge； like a continuous low moan； or roar； far； far away； though there
was no wind； and the sea was calm。
'It is the sound that comes before stormy weather；' said Guy。 'It is
as if the sea was gathering up its forces for the tempest。'
'But what？how？ Tell me what it really is；' said Robin。
'I suppose it is the wind on the sea before it has reached us；' said
Guy。 'How solemn it is！'
Too solemn for the boys； who began all manner of antics and noises； by
way of silencing the impression of awfulness。 Guy laughed； and joined
in their fun； but as soon as they were gone home； he stood in silence
for a long time； listening to the sound； and recalling the mysterious
dreams and fancies with which it was connected in his boyhood； and
which he had never wished thus to drive away。
The storm he had predicted came on； and by the evening of the following
day； sea and wind were thundering； in their might； against the foot of
the crags。 Guy looked from the window； the last thing at night； and
saw the stars twinkling overhead； with that extreme brilliancy which is
often seen in the intervals of fitful storms； and which suggested
thoughts that sent him to sleep in a vague； soothing dream。
He was wakened by one tremendous continued roar of sea； wind； and
thunder combined。 Such was the darkness； that he could not see the
form of the window； till a sheet of pale blue lightning brought it
fully out for the moment。 He sat up； and listened to the 'glorious
voice' that followed it； thought what an awful night at sea； and
remembered when he used to fancy it would be the height of felicity to
have a shipwreck at Redclyffe； and shocked Mrs。 Bernard by inhuman
wishes that a ship would only come and be wrecked。 How often had he
watched； through sounds like these； for a minute gun！ Nay； he had once
actually called up poor Arnaud in the middle of the night for an
imaginary signal。 Redclyffe Bay was a very dangerous one； a fine place
for a wreck； with its precipitous crags； its single safe landing…place；
and the great Shag Stone； on the eastern side； with a whole progeny of
nearly sunken rocks； dreaded in rough weather by the fishermen
themselves； but it was out of the ordinary track of vessels； and there
were only a few traditions of terrible wrecks long before his time。
It seemed as if he had worked up his fancy again； for the sound of a
gun was for a moment in his ear。 It was lost in the rush of hail
against the window； and the moaning of the wind round the old house；
but presently it returned too surely to be imaginary。 He sprang to the
window； and the broad； flickering glare of lightning revealed the black
cliff and pale sea…line； then all was dark and still； while the storm
was holding its breath for the thunder…burst which in a few more
seconds rolled overhead； shaking door and window throughout the house。
As the awful sound died away； in a moment's lull； came the gun again。
He threw up the window； and as the blast of wind and rain swept howling
into the room； it brought another report。
To close the window； light his candle； throw on his clothes； and hasten
down…stairs； was the work of a very few seconds。 Luckily； the key of
the boat…house was lying on the table in the hall； where he had left
it； after showing the boat to the Ashford boys； he seized it； caught up
the pocket telescope； put on a rough coat； and proceeded to undo the
endless fastenings of the hall…door； a very patience…trying occupation；
and； when completed； the gusts that were eddying round the house； ready
to force their way in everywhere； took advantage of the first opening
to blow out his candle。
However； they had in one way done good service； for the shower had been
as brief as it was violent； and the inky cloud was drifting away
furiously towards the east； leaving the moon visible； near her setting；
and allowing her white cold light to shine forth； contrasting with the
distant sheets of pale lightning； growing fainter and fainter。
Guy ran across the court； round to the west side of the house； and
struggled up the slope in the face of the wind； which almost swept him
down again； and when at length he had gained the summit； came rushing
against him with such force that he could hardly stand。 He did；
however； keep his ground； and gazed out over the sea。 The swell was
fearful； marked by the silver light on one side； where it caught the
moonbeams； and the black shade on the other； ever alternating； so that
the eye could； not fix on them for a moment； the spray leapt high in
its whiteness； and the Shag stood up hard； bold； and black。 The waves
thundered； bursting on the cliff and； high as he stood； the spray
dashed almost blinding in his face； while the wind howled round him； as
if gathering its might for the very purpose of wrenching him from the
cliff； but he stood firm； and looked out again； to discern clearly what
he thought he had seen。 It was the mast of a vessel； seen plainly
against the light silvery distance of sea on the reef west of the Shag。
It was in a slanting direction； and did not move； he could not doubt
that the ship had struck on the dangerous rocks at the entrance of the
bay； and as his eyes became more accustomed to the unusual light； and
made out what objects were or were not familiar； he could perceive the
ship herself。 He looked with the glass； but could see no one on board；
nor were any boats in sight； but observing some of the lesser rocks； he
beheld some moving figures on them。 Help！instant help！was his
thought； and he looked towards the Cove。 Lights were in the cottage
windows； and a few sounds came up to him； as if the fishing population
were astir。
He hastened to the side of the cliff； which was partly clothed with
brushwood。 There was a descentit could hardly be called a path
which no one ventured to attempt but himself and a few of the boldest
birds'…nesting boys of the village； but he could lose no time； and
scrambling； leaping； swinging himself by the branches； he reached the
foot of the cliff in safety； and in five minutes more was on the little
quay at the end of the steep street of the Cove。
The quay was crowded with the fisher…people； and there was a strange
confusion of voices； some saying all was lost； some that the crew had
got to the rock； others； that some one ought to put off and help them；
others； that a boat would never live in such a sea； and an old
telescope was in great requisition。
Ben Robinson； a tall； hardy young man； of five…and…twenty； wild；
reckless； high…spirited and full of mischief and adventure； was
standing on a pile at the extreme verge above the foaming water； daring
the others to go with him to the rescue； and； though Jonas Ledbury； a
feeble old man； was declaring； in a piteous tone； it was a sin and a
shame to let so many poor creatures be lost in sight； without one man
stirring to help them； yet all stood irresolute； watching the white
breakers dashing on the Shag； and the high waves that swelled and
rolled between。
'Do you know where the crew are？' exclaimed Guy； shouting as loud as he
could； for the noise of the winds and waves was tremendous。
'There； sir； on the flat black stone；' said the fortunate possessor of
the telescope。 'Some ten or eleven of them； I fancy； all huddled
together。'
'Ay； ay！' said old Ledbury。 'Poor creatures！ there they be； and what
is to be done； I can't say！ I never saw a boat in such a sea； since
the night poor Jack； my brother； was lost； and Will Ray with him。'
'I see them；' said Guy； who had in the meantime looked through his
glass。 'How soon is high water？'
It was an important question； for the rocks round the Shag were covered
before full tide； even when the water was still。 There was a looking
up at the moon； and then Guy and the fishermen simultaneously
exclaimed； that it would be in three hours； which gave scarcely an hour
to spare。
Without another word； Guy sprang from the quay to the boat…house；
unlocked it； and； by example； showed that the largest boat was to be
brought out。 The men helped him vigorously； and it stood on the narrow
pebbly beach； the only safe landing…place in the whole bay； he threw
into it a coil of rope； and called out in his clear commanding voice
'Five to go with me！'