n. They pumped and pumped away till they were weary, and
then went back into the cabin to lie down awhile.

They had now got more accustomed to the sight of their dead captain, so
that even Bill did not object to passing the night in the cabin. The
next day they again pumped away, and had entirely freed the vessel by
noon. Having nothing more to do, their thoughts turned towards the
possibility of reaching England. They anxiously scanned the horizon in
the hopes of seeing some vessel approaching them. A sail was seen at
length--they thought that she was coming towards them, but she stood
away; then another and another came in sight; but their vessel was not
perceived. Another night came on. As the sun went down, the sky again
became very threatening. Before midnight the gale had returned. There
was no compass below, so the boys did not know from what quarter it
blew. Poor Bill began really to despair, and wanted to get into a berth
and go to sleep till he was drowned.

"No, don't do that," said Robby. "While there's life there's hope; and,
depend on't, God knows what's best for us."

The storm raged furiously, but the little vessel, freed from water, and
light as a cask, floated like a cork driven before it. At length the
gale ceased, and the sea went down, and the two boys went on deck. The
coast was in sight--they knew it well--they were off Lowestoft. Boats
came off--the _Sea-gull_ was towed into the Yar. It became known how
Robby and Bill had kept the vessel afloat by pumping her out before the
second gale came on. A subscription was raised for Robby and his
mother; and, though he is very young, he commands a vessel of his own,
still firm in the belief which he endeavours to impress on others, that
"God knows what is best for us."

End of Project Gutenberg's The Ferryman of Brill, by William H. G. Kingston

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