e moon gliding into a cloud.
David wondered very much at this, and cast about in his mind how it
might be; but his heart seemed to tell him that there was some holy
and beautiful thing on the island very near to him. He could hardly
contain himself for gladness; and he thought that God had doubtless
given him this day of misery and terror, partly that he might value
his peace truly, and partly that he might feel that he had it not of
right, but by the gracious disposition of the Father.

So he climbed very softly and swiftly to the cave; and entered it
with a great gladness; and then he became aware of a great awe in his
mind. There was somewhat there, that he could not see with his eyes,
but which was more real and present than anything he had ever known;
the cave seemed to shine with a faint and tender gleam that was dying
away by slow degrees; as though the roof and walls had been charged
with a peaceful light, which still rayed about them, though the
radiance that had fed it was withdrawn. He took off his dripping
clothes, and wrapped himself in his old sea-cloak. But he did not
think of sleep, or even of prayer; he only sate still on his bed of
fern, with his eyes open in the darkness, drinking in the strong and
solemn peace which seemed to abide there. David never had known such a
feeling, and he was never to know it again so fully; but for the time
he seemed to sit at the foot of God, satisfied. While he thus sate, a
great wind sprang up outside and thundered in the rocks; fiercer and
fiercer it blew, and soon there followed it the loud crying of the
sea, as the great waters began to heave and rage. Then David bestirred
himself to light and trim his lamp, and set it in the window as a
warning to ships. And when he had done this he felt a great and sudden
weariness, and he laid himself down; and sleep closed over him at
once, as the sea closes over a stone that is flung into it.

Once in the night he woke, with the roar of the storm in his ears,
and wondered that he had slept through it. He had been through many
stormy nights, but he had never heard the like of this. The wind blew
with a steady roar, like a flood of thunder outpoured; in the midst of
it, the great waves, hurled upon the rocks, uttered their voices; and
between he heard the hiss of the water, as it rushed downwards from
the cliff face. In the midst of all came a sharp and sudden wailing
cry; and then he began to wonder what the poor ship was doing