ving as if it was easy. Ha! 'tis easy enough for a man to
point to a rope and say, 'I believe that would bear my weight;' but 'tis
another thing for a man to catch hold o' that rope, and swing himself by
it over the edge of a precipice!"

The energy with which he said this, and the action with which it was
accompanied, were too much for Bill. He sank back with a deep groan. As
if the very elements sympathized with this man's sufferings, a low moan
came sweeping over the sea.

"Hist! Ralph," said Bill, opening his eves; "there's a squall coming,
lad. Look alive, boy. Clew up the fore-sail. Drop the main-sail peak.
Them squalls come quick sometimes."

I had already started to my feet, and saw that a heavy squall was indeed
bearing down on us. It had hitherto escaped my notice, owing to my being
so much engrossed by our conversation. I instantly did as Bill desired,
for the schooner was still lying motionless on the glassy sea. I
observed with some satisfaction that the squall was bearing down on the
larboard bow, so that it would strike the vessel in the position in which
she would be best able to stand the shock. Having done my best to
shorten sail, I returned aft, and took my stand at the helm.

"Now, boy," said Bill, in a faint voice, "keep her close to the wind."

A few seconds afterwards he said, "Ralph, let me hear those two texts
again."

I repeated them.

"Are ye sure, lad, ye saw them in the Bible?"

"Quite sure," I replied.

Almost before the words had left my lips the wind burst upon us, and the
spray dashed over our decks. For a time the schooner stood it bravely,
and sprang forward against the rising sea like a war-horse. Meanwhile
clouds darkened the sky, and the sea began to rise in huge billows. There
was still too much sail on the schooner, and, as the gale increased, I
feared that the masts would be torn out of her or carried away, while the
wind whistled and shrieked through the strained rigging. Suddenly the
wind shifted a point, a heavy sea struck us on the bow, and the schooner
was almost laid on her beam-ends, so that I could scarcely keep my legs.
At the same moment Bill lost his hold of the belaying-pin which had
served to steady him, and he slid with stunning violence against the sky-
light. As he lay on the deck close beside me, I could see that the shock
had rendered him insensible, but I did not dare to quit the tiller for an
instant, as it required all my faculties, b