and we were all among the waves. Our sailors,
whose strength had returned at the presence of danger, redoubled their
efforts, uttering mournful sounds. Our bark groaned, the oars were
broken; it was thought aground, but it was stranded; it was upon its
side. The last sea rushed upon us with the impetuosity of a torrent. We
were up to the neck in water; the bitter sea-froth choaked us. The
grapnel was thrown out. The sailors threw themselves into the sea; they
took the children in their arms; returned, and took us upon their
shoulders; and I found myself seated upon the sand on the shore, by the
side of my step-mother, my brothers and sisters, almost dead. Every one
was upon the beach except my father and some sailors; but that good man
arrived at last, to mingle his tears with those of his family and
friends.

Instantly our hearts joined in addressing our prayers and praises to
God. I raised my hands to heaven, and remained some time immoveable
upon the beach. Every one also hastened to testify his gratitude to our
old pilot, who, next to God, justly merited the title of our preserver.
M. Dumege, a naval surgeon, gave him an elegant gold watch, the only
thing he had saved from the Medusa.

Let the reader now recollect all the perils to which we had been exposed
in escaping from the wreck of the frigate to the shores of the
Desert--all that we had suffered during our four days' voyage--and he
will perhaps have a just notion of the various sensations we felt on
getting on shore on that strange and savage land. Doubtless the joy we
experienced at having escaped, as by a miracle, the fury of the floods,
was very great; but how much was it lessened by the feelings of our
horrible situation! Without water, without provisions, and the majority
of us nearly naked, was it to be wondered at that we should be seized
with terror on thinking of the obstacles which we had to surmount, the
fatigues, the privations, the pains and the sufferings we had to endure,
with the dangers we had to encounter in the immense and frightful Desert
we had to traverse before we could arrive at our destination? Almighty
Providence! it was in Thee alone I put my trust.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE SHIPWRECKED PARTY FORM THEMSELVES INTO A CARAVAN TO GO BY
LAND TO SENEGAL--THEY FIND WATER IN THE DESERT--SOME PEOPLE OF
THE CARAVAN PROPOSE TO ABANDON THE PICARD FAMILY--GENEROUS
CONDUCT OF AN OLD OFFICER OF INFANTRY--DISCOVERY OF AN OASIS OF
WILD PURSLAIN