I know not, when I heard him shout, "A
sail, boys! a sail!--we shall be saved!" His voice aroused me, and I
saw him standing up, shading his eyes with his hand, while he leaned
against the oar which formed the mast. "She's standing this way; do
try, my lads, to hold out for an hour or so longer, and we shall have as
much water to drink and food to eat as we want," he exclaimed. "Here,
you shall have your luncheon;" and taking the half fish, he divided it
into four equal portions.

"No, no, I don't want any; I can hold out well enough," he answered,
when I made signs to him to take some. The rest of the party stretched
out their hands feebly for the portion he gave them, but could with
difficulty carry the food to their lips, or swallow it when they had got
it into their mouths. So exhausted were we, indeed, that though we knew
that a vessel was approaching, we were unable to sit up and watch her.
I too saw her, and as she got nearer Mudge sang out that she was a brig
under English colours; yet I could not believe that she was a reality.
I several times heard him speaking about her approach. Once he
exclaimed, with a deep groan,--"She's hauled her wind, and is standing
away from us!" then again,--"No, no; she sees us!--thank God, we're
saved! we're saved!" Still, his words had no effect upon me or the rest
of the party. Again I heard him hail; and a voice came from the brig in
return. I was just conscious that we were alongside, and soon
afterwards I felt myself lifted upon the deck; but my senses were
confused; I could not understand anything that was going forward, and
soon lost all consciousness.

How long I thus lay I could not tell, when, on opening my eyes, I saw a
face bending over me; it was that of my mother. I was sure that I was
dreaming, and again closed my eyes. The next time I opened them, they
fell on the sweet features of my young sister Edith. She stood by the
side of the cot in which I lay. I gazed at her for some seconds. There
she stood, watching me eagerly; yet I could not persuade myself that it
was really her. I knew how very vividly I had often seen persons and
objects in my dreams.

I was in a neatly furnished cabin; just before me was a picture of our
house at Clifton, and near it were hanging a girl's straw hat and
mantle. Again I turned my eyes towards the figure at my side. "Edith,"
I murmured, not expecting to receive a reply.

"Yes, yes, dear Godfrey, I am Edith! Oh, h