A great awe came on all as they realised that the ship, as if by a miracle, had found the harbour, unsteered save by the hand of a dead man! However, all took place more quickly than it takes to write these words. The schooner paused not, but rushing across the harbour, pitched herself on that accumulation of sand and gravel washed by many tides and many storms into the southeast corner of the pier under the East Cliff, known locally as Tate Hill Pier.

There was of course a considerable concussion as the vessel drove up on the sand heap. Every spar, rope, and stay was strained, and some of the upper sails came crashing down. But, strangest of all, the very instant the shore was touched, an immense dog sprang up on deck from below,as if shot up by the concussion, and running forward, jumped from the bow on the sand.

Making straight for the steep cliff, where the churchyard hangs over the lane to the East Pier so steeply that some of the flat tombstones, actually project over where the sustaining cliff has fallen away, it disappeared in the darkness, which seemed intensified just beyond the focus of the searchlight.

Vocabulary:

Awe: Astonishment and wonder
Pitch: Here it means 'throw'
Concussion: Impact, blow
Spar: Something holds up the sails
Stay: A block that ropes are tied to
Project: Stick out, hang over
Sustain: Support
Intensify: Make more or stronger