Lawless was still fixed at the rudder ; and by this time nearly all the men had crawled on deck , and were now gazing , with blank faces , upon the inhospitable coast . `` Are we going ashore ? '' asked Dick . `` Ay , '' said Lawless , `` unless we get first to the bottom . '' And just then the ship rose so languidly to meet a sea , and the water weltered so loudly in her hold , that Dick involuntarily seized the steersman by the arm . `` By the mass ! '' cried Dick , as the bows of the Good Hope reappeared above the foam , `` I thought we had foundered , indeed ; my heart was at my throat . '' In the waist , Greensheve , Hawksley , and the better men of both companies were busy breaking up the deck to build a raft ; and to these Dick joined himself , working the harder to drown the memory of his predicament . But , even as he worked , every sea that struck the poor ship , and every one of her dull lurches , as she tumbled wallowing among the waves , recalled him with a horrid pang to the immediate proximity of death . Presently , looking up from his work , he saw that they were close in below a promontory ; a piece of ruinous cliff , against the base of which the sea broke white and heavy , almost overplumbed the deck ; and , above that , again , a house appeared , crowning a down . Inside the bay the seas ran gayly , raised the Good Hope upon their foam-flecked shoulders , carried her beyond the control of the steersman , and in a moment dropped her , with a great concussion , on the sand , and began to break over her half-mast high , and roll her to and fro . Another great wave followed , raised her again , and carried her yet farther in ; and then a third succeeded , and left her far inshore of the more dangerous breakers , wedged upon a bank . `` Now , boys , '' cried Lawless , `` the saints have had a care of us , indeed . The tide ebbs ; let us but sit down and drink a cup of wine , and before half an hour ye may all march me ashore as safe as on a bridge . '' A barrel was broached , and , sitting in what shelter they could find from the flying snow and spray , the shipwrecked company handed the cup around , and sought to warm their bodies and restore their spirits . Dick , meanwhile , returned to Lord Foxham , who lay in great perplexity and fear , the floor of his cabin washing knee-deep in water , and the lamp , which had been his only light , broken and extinguished by the violence of the blow . `` My lord , '' said young Shelton , `` fear not at all ; the saints are plainly for us ; the seas have cast us high upon a shoal , and as soon as the tide hath somewhat ebbed , we may walk ashore upon our feet . '' It was nearly an hour before the vessel was sufficiently deserted by the ebbing sea ; and they could set forth for the land , which appeared dimly before them through a veil of driving snow . Upon a hillock on one side of their way a party of men lay huddled together , suspiciously observing the movements of the new arrivals . `` They might draw near and offer us some comfort , '' Dick remarked .
`` Well , an ' they come not to us , let us even turn aside to them , '' said XXXXX .
Ay Greensheve Hawksley first fro hillock promontory shoal steersman third