At 6 P.M. on the 22nd December a barge, the Beryl, of Faversham, showed flares for a pilot, but in the prevailing gale it was not safe for ;a pilot to proceed to her. As the weather was very bad, and had every appearance of becoming worse, the Life-boat Alfred Carry was launched to the assistance of the barge, and put four men on board. At this time the wind backed more to the eastward, and it was impossible for the barge and the Life-boat to make the harbour. The barge nearly drifted ashore at Dunwich, but by skilful seamanship they managed to get her clear. Shortly afterwards the wind again changed, and it was found that the vessel could not get to Harwich, where they were then trying to take her. A heavy cross sea was encountered, and as it was blowing hard, and the weather was thick with rain, the captain requested the Life- boatmen to try and get the vessel into Paversham. The vessel was then kept away for the Sunk light-vessel, which was made between 5 and 6 o'clock the next morning. At daylight it became very thick, but the weather moderated somewhat, and eventually the vessel and her crew were got safely to Paver- sham, where they arrived at 4 P.M. on the 23rd December. The boat left Faversham again at 2 P.M. on Sunday, the 24th, on her passage of sixty to seventy miles home, which, with contrary or light winds, might easily take from two to three days, but the wind falling away at night, found her at the Ship- wash Light. Thence the voyage was tedious, but at 1 A.M. on Christmas morning, as the waits were singing " Noel," she was reported by telephone as abreast of Dunwich, and the weary watchers from the Cliff House made their way to the harbour, glad that their vigil was over, but proud of their brothers and their boat. The carol singers, by a happy thought, and with true Christmas feeling, also journeyed to the harbour, and the Life-boat crew, after their fifty-five hours' absence on the noblest of tasks, were welcomed home by the sounds of old-time carols, and reminded that Christmas was come, when all men feel that they are brothers, and kindly good wishes and gifts pass round..