THE ARIEL AMONG THE SHOALS （Ⅱ）
1.So far the performance of his duty seemed easy to the stranger，and he gave the required directions in those still，calm tones that formed so remarkable a contrast to the responsibility of his situation.But when the land was becoming dim，in distance as well as darkness，and the agitated sea was only to be discovered as it swept by them in foam，he broke in upon the monotonous roaring of the tempest with the sound of his voice，seeming to shake off his apathy and rouse himself to the occasion.
2.“Now is the time to watch her closely，Mr.Griffith，”he cried；“here we get the true tide and the real danger.Place the best quarter-master of your ship in those chains，and let an officer stand by him and see that he gives us the right water.”“I will take that office on myself，”said the captain，“pass a light into the weather main-chains.”“Stand by your braces！”exclaimed the pilot，with startling quickness.“Heave away that lead！”
3.These preparations taught the crew to expect the crisis，and every officer and man stood in fearful silence，at his assigned station，awaiting the issue of the trial.Even the quarter-master gave out his orders to the men at the wheel in deeper and hoarser tones than usual，as if anxious not to disturb the quiet and order of the vessel.While this deep expectation pervaded the frigate，the piercing cry of the leadsman，as he called，“By the mark seven！”rose above the tempest，crossed over the decks，and appeared to pass away to leeward，borne on the blast like the warnings of some water spirit.
4.“Tis well，”returned the pilot，calmly；“try again.”The short pause was succeeded by another cry，“And a half five！”“She shoals！she shoals ！”exclaimed Griffith；“keep her a good full.”“Ay，you must hold the vessel in command now，”said the pilot，with those cool tones that are most appalling in critical moments，because they seem to denote most preparation and care.The third call，“By the deep four！”was followed by a prompt direction from the stranger to tack.
5.Griffith seemed to emulate the coolness of the pilot，in issuing the necessary order to execute their maneuver.The vessel rose slowly from the inclined position into which she had been forced by the tempest，and the sails were shaking violently，as if to release themselves from their confinement，while the ship stemmed the billows，when the well-known voice of the sailing-master was heard shouting from the forecastle，“Breakers，breakers，dead ahead！”This appalling sound seemed yet to be lingering about the ship，when a second voice cried，“Breakers on our lee-bow！”
6.“We are in a bight of the shoals，Mr.Gray，”said the commander.“She loses her way；perhaps an anchor might hold her.”“Clear away that best-bower！”shouted Griffith，through his trumpet.“Hold on，”cried the pilot，in a voice that reached the very hearts of all who heard him；“hold on every thing.”
7.The young man turned fiercely to the daring stranger who thus defied the discipline of his vessel，and at once demanded，“Who is it that dares to countermand my orders？Is it not enough that you run the ship into danger，but you must interfere to keep her there？If another word.”
