"I dun left word dat I was comin' ober an' dat I thought yo' was yeah, sah," answered Ben.
He had brought all the good things necessary, along with plates, cups, knives and forks, and soon had the spread ready for them. Then he went off to another part of the wreck to wring out his wet garments.
"It was very nice of Old Ben to come to us," said Marion, while eating. "It must have been no easy matter to row from the shore to the rocks."
"Ben is as good a boatman as there is in these parts, Marion. It was kind, and he ought to be rewarded for it."
"Mamma will reward him, beyond a doubt."
The storm kept increasing in violence, and before the strange meal was disposed of the thunder and lightning were almost incessant. Ben had brought a candle along—knowing the darkness inside of the wreck—and this was all the light they possessed, outside of what Nature afforded.
Ben was just putting the dishes back into the basket when there came an extra heavy flash of lightning, followed immediately by a rending clap of thunder which almost paralyzed Marion and Jack. There was a strange smell in the air, and both found their blood tingling in a manner that was new to them.
"The wreck—it's been struck by lightning!" gasped Jack, when he could speak.
"Dat's a fac'!" came from Old Ben. "It was jess like de crack ob doom, wasn't it?"
He ran on deck, and Jack followed him, with Marion on the bottom of the companion way, not knowing whether to go up or remain below.