was　too　late。 A　frightful　crash　was　heard　above　the　tumult　of　the　elements。　The　vessel　had　struck。 The　white　line　of　surf　was　broken　for　an　instant；　she　heeled　over　on　her　side　and　lay　among　the　rocks。

At　the　same　time；　by　a　strange　coincidence；　the　long　flame　disappeared；　as　if　it　had　been　swept　away　by　a　violent　gust。 Earth；　sea；　and　sky　were　plunged　in　plete　darkness。

〃The　Fire…Maiden！〃　shouted　Ryan；　for　the　last　time；　as　the　apparition；　which　he　and　his　panions　believed　supernatural；　disappeared。　But　then　the　courage　of　these　superstitious　Scotchmen；　which　had　failed　before　a　fancied　danger；　returned　in　face　of　a　real　one；　which　they　were　ready　to　brave　in　order　to　save　their　fellow…creatures。　The　tempest　did　not　deter　them。　As　heroic　as　they　had　before　been　credulous；　fastening　ropes　round　their　waists；　they　rushed　into　the　waves　to　the　aid　of　those　on　the　wreck。

Happily；　they　succeeded　in　their　endeavors；　although　some……and　bold　Jack　Ryan　was　among　the　number……were　severely　wounded　on　the　rocks。　But　the　captain　of　the　vessel　and　the　eight　sailors　who　posed　his　crew　were　hauled　up；　safe　and　sound；　on　the　beach。

The　ship　was　the　Norwegian　brig　MOTALA；　laden　with　timber；　and　bound　for　Glasgow。 Of　the　MOTALA　herself　nothing　remained　but　a　few　spars；　washed　up　by　the　waves；　and　dashed　among　the　rocks　on　the　beach。

Jack　Ryan　and　three　of　his　panions；　wounded　like　himself；　were　carried　into　a　room　of　Melrose　Farm；　where　every　care　was　lavished　on　them。 Ryan　was　the　most　hurt；　for　when　with　the　rope　round　his　waist　he　had　rushed　into　the　sea；　the　waves　had　almost　immediately　dashed　him　back　against　the　rocks。　He　was　brought；　indeed；　very　nearly　lifeless　on　to　the　beach。

The　brave　fellow　was　therefore　confined　to　bed　for　seve