t she could shake herself clear of the mass of
water, which, as it rushed aft, dashed the men from the helm, forcing
the tiller out of their hands, and tossed them helplessly from side to
side. It seemed a wonder that none were carried overboard or received
mortal injury. The admiral, too, was thrown from his seat and, as were
several officers round him, cast with his face on the deck. Still,
while endeavouring to recover himself, he shouted to others of the crew,
who flew to the helm and prevented the ship from broaching to. Though
she was running at the time under bare poles at the rate of scarcely
less than eight knots an hour, for a moment the violence of the shock
stopped her way, and many thinking that she had struck on a rock,
shouted out, "We are lost! we are lost!"

"Not yet, my brave fellows," cried the admiral; "while there is life
there is hope! The ship is still swimming: all hands to their
stations."

Another voice was heard clear and clarion-toned amid the howling of the
storm, as the voices of God's ministers should sound at all
times:--"Turn to Him who calmed the tempest on the sea of Galilee. Why
are ye affrighted, oh ye of little faith? Trust to Him all powerful to
save, not your frail bodies only from the perils of the deep, but your
immortal souls from just condemnation. Turn ye, turn ye! why will ye
die? He calls to you; He beseeches you. Trust to Him! trust to Him!"

He who spoke was the good chaplain, Master Hunt, who had been
ceaselessly supporting the sorely-tried ones below with words of comfort
from the book of life, and who had now come on deck to perform his duty
to the fainting crew.

The men, thus encouraged, returned to their duty, and worked away with
the same vigour as before. Even during this fearful time neither
Vaughan nor Gilbert had quitted the pump at which they were labouring.
Though Vaughan, believing that Cicely was lost, cared little for life,
yet he thought of his mother and sister, and felt that it was his duty
at all events to labour for their sakes.

"Don't give way brother," cried Gilbert, "our mother has often said that
God watches over us, and if it is His good will He can preserve us even
now. The carpenter has just stopped another leak, and I heard him say
that he hoped the rest might be got at. We may be thankful that we have
strength to work."

"Spell, oh!" was soon after this cried, and a fresh party hurrying from
the cabins and from the more s