As the billow came on, the bubbling, leaping, and seething of its crest was apparent both to eye and ear. Then the roar became tremendous.
"Darling Winnie," said Nigel at that moment. "I will die for you or with you!"
The poor girl heard, but no sign of appreciation moved her pale face as she gazed up at the approaching chaos of waters.
Next moment the brig seemed to stand on its bows. Van der Kemp had placed his daughter against the mast, and, throwing his long arms round both, held on. Nigel, close to them, had grasped a handful of ropes, and every one else was holding on for life. Another moment and the brig rose as if it were being tossed up to the heavens. Immediately thereafter it resumed its natural position in a perfect wilderness of foam. They were on the summit of the great wave, which was so large that its crest seemed like a broad, rounded mass of tumbling snow with blackness before and behind, while the roar of the tumult was deafening. The brig rushed onward at a speed which she had never before equalled even in the fiercest gale—tossed hither and thither by the leaping foam, yet always kept going straight onward by the expert steering of her captain.
"Come aft—all of you!" he shouted, when it was evident that the vessel was being borne surely forward on the wave's crest. "The masts will go for certain when we strike."
The danger of being entangled in the falling spars and cordage was so obvious that every one except the hermit and Nigel obeyed.
"Here, Nigel," gasped the former. "I—I've—lost blood—faint!——"
Our hero at once saw that Van der Kemp, fainting from previous loss of blood, coupled with exertion, was unable to do anything but hold on. Indeed, he failed even in that, and would have fallen to the deck had Nigel not caught him by the arm.
"Can you run aft, Winnie?" said Nigel anxiously.
"Yes!" said the girl, at once understanding the situation and darting to the wheel, of which and of Captain Roy she laid firm hold, while Nigel lifted the hermit in his arms and staggered to the same spot. Winnie knelt beside him immediately, and, forgetting for the moment all the horrors around her, busied herself in replacing the bandage which had been loosened from his head.