daylight helplessly on shore.

It was a very anxious time; for I felt that I had not only the ship to
look after, but her whom I loved more than my life, and those dear to
her, under my charge.

Still the confidence in God's protecting care which has cheered me
through life supported me on that trying occasion. I knew too that it
was enjoyed by my friends; for, from the conversations I had had with
them, I had discovered that they possessed the same faith as I did, and
though, from living among those who differed from them, they did not
speak in public on religious subjects, they made the precepts of the
Bible the rule of their lives.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

A HAPPY DISCOVERY.

Morning broke at length. How different was the appearance of the ocean
to that it had presented the previous day! The dark-green foam-topped
waves danced up wildly, the sky was of a murky hue, the wind roared and
whistled as loudly as before, and the ship, instead of gliding on with
calm dignity, tumbled and tossed as if she was a mere cock-boat.

Sophie begged to come on deck. I assisted her up. Scarcely had she
appeared, when there came a break in the clouds to the eastward, and the
sun shone forth. "A good omen!" she exclaimed.

"We may take it as such," I answered; "and I trust that before long the
hurricane will cease, and He who holds the waters in His hands will save
us from further danger."

The wind ceased almost as suddenly as it had arisen, the sea went down,
and in a few hours we were able to clear the yards and bend fresh sails.
Once more the ship was standing for the land.

My first mate had frequently been at Saint Lucia, and he acting as
pilot, soon after daylight the next morning we entered the harbour.

The ship of necessity must I found be detained some days, as the
main-topmast was badly sprung, while she had received other damages in
the gale. As these could be repaired under the superintendence of my
first mate, I escorted my passengers on shore.

Monsieur de Villereine had begged me to come to his house, which was
situated about a mile from the town, but I felt compelled to accept
Henri's invitation to accompany him and his sister to his father's
house, a short distance farther off on the side of the mountain; and
more so, as from his weak state, he required my assistance in getting in
and out of the carriage. Poor fellow! my heart grieved for him, as it
seemed to me, though he had no apprehension of