"

Sandy spoke what we all knew to be the truth, but still we would rather
have shut our eyes to the unpleasant fact. It is extraordinary that men
should be able to disregard the future, even when on the very brink of
the grave. Is it apathy, or stolid indifference, or disbelief in a
future existence that enables them to do so? I speak of those without
the Christian's hope--men who lead profligate lives; men stained with a
thousand crimes; men who have never feared God, who seemed scarcely to
have a knowledge of God. I have thought the matter over, and have come
to the conclusion that some men have the power of shutting out thought.
They dare not let thought intrude for a moment. They struggle
desperately against thought. Sometimes thought conquers, and then
fearful is their condition. Then the terrors of hell rise up, and they
would give ten thousand worlds to escape the doom they know well they
have merited. Even now I do not like to think of that night. Slowly
the hours dragged on. We fancied as we rose to the top of the sea, that
the wind was blowing with even greater force than before, and our frail
raft was dashed here and there, with even greater violence than it had
yet endured. We felt it breaking up. With a desperate grip we held on
to the larger portions of the timber which composed it. At length it
parted, and Kiddle and I were left clinging to one part, while our four
companions held on to the other. We could scarcely hope finally to
escape. The two portions, however, continued floating within hailing
distance of each other. We shouted to our friends to hold on. Pat
Brady answered with a cheerful "Ay! Ay!" It cheered our spirits
somewhat, though not very greatly, it must be owned. From that moment
the sea appeared to be going down, and gradually daylight, which we
thought had been much further off, stole over the world of waters.
Fortunately there were some thin boards still secured to the portion of
the raft which supported Kiddle and me. We agreed to tear them up, and
with them to paddle towards our friends.

After a considerable amount of labour we reached them, and immediately
set to work, as the sea had again become almost smooth, to repair our
raft. So thirsty had we become by this time, that it was with
difficulty we could avoid drinking the salt water. We counselled each
other, however, not to do so, well knowing the ill effects which would
be produced. We felt now the loss