Eban leaped in.
“Whereabouts is the vessel in danger?” he asked. “I could not make her out.”
“She is my craft, the ‘Sea-Gull,’” said Uncle Reuben. “The ‘Favourite,’ which has just come in, saw her driving, with her mast gone, towards the Gull Rock, and if she strikes it there is no chance for her or the poor fellows on board. Lord be merciful to them! we must do our best to try and save them, for no craft under sail will dare to stand near them, for fear of sharing their fate.”
Eban knew that Michael had gone away in the “Sea-Gull.” Should he risk his life to try and save that of his rival? He felt inclined to spring on shore again. The next instant Uncle Reuben gave the order to get out the oars.
Once actively engaged Eban no longer wished to quit the boat, but the wild thought rose in his mind that Michael might be lost, and then, his rival removed, that Nelly would become his.
In his selfishness he did not consider the grief she whom he professed to love would suffer; he, at all events, would not have inflicted it. He had not committed the crime he meditated, and yet might gain the object of his wishes.
Nelly had been anxiously waiting the return of Dame Lanreath; she was greatly agitated by Eban’s visit—unable to overcome the fear that he might do something desperate, but what that might be she could not tell.
She frequently went to the door to see if her granny was coming.
The night drew on, the fury of the storm increased. She thought of Michael on the raging ocean engaged in hauling in his nets. The “Sea-Gull” would surely not remain out long in such weather; the fishing-vessels ought to be back by this time. She longed to run down to the harbour’s mouth to ascertain if they had returned; then her granny might come in, and, finding her gone, not know what had become of her. The thought, too, that she might meet Eban in his angry mood restrained her.
“Oh, what is going to happen?” she exclaimed, feeling more anxiety and alarm than she had ever before experienced. “O my dear, dear Michael, why don’t you come back to me? O merciful God, protect him!” She fell on her knees, hiding her face in her hands, and prayed for the safety of him who was on the foaming waters.