ar so loudly, very
naturally felt somewhat alarmed.

"Is the lightning likely to strike us?" he asked at length.

"I think not, my lad. We have but little iron about our raft; and
though iron is said to attract it, we are so low down on the surface
that I believe it will pass harmlessly over our heads. A large ship,
with her taunt masts, would be in much greater danger than this small
raft. We must trust to Him who rules the winds and seas, and the
lightning also. It won't do to be sometimes trusting Him and sometimes
not. It's as easy for Him to save us out of a great danger as out of
what we call a small one. Not that I think we are in any especial
danger now; nor shall we be as long as the sea remains calm."

Walter's anxiety was greatly relieved by the mate's assurances. He sat
down on the raft. They had been steadily running on for some time, when
a vivid flash lighted up the sky and all the ocean to the westward.

"I saw something floating on the water, right ahead," said Walter.
"What it was I cannot exactly say, though it seemed to me to be like a
piece of wreck, and I thought for the moment that I saw people on it."

"Keep a bright lookout then, my lad," answered the mate. "We shall
probably have another flash presently, and then you will see clearly.
Stand by to lower the sail, that I may have a look at it too."

Walter cast off the halliards, and tried with all his might to pierce
the gloom.

"There! there!" he exclaimed, letting go the halliards as another flash
darted from the sky. "It's a raft with two people on it. We are close
upon them."

A hail came from the raft uttered by two voices.

"O Mr Shobbrok, that was Nub's voice, and Alice's too! I am sure of
it," exclaimed Walter, scarcely able to speak from excitement. He then,
lifting up his own voice, shouted in return--"Is that you, Alice? Is
that you, Nub?"

"Yes, yes," answered Nub; "praise Heaven, we all right! Is dat you,
Massa Walter?"

"Yes," answered Walter.

"O Walter! O Walter! is it you?" cried Alice.

"I am Walter, and Mr Shobbrok is with me," he shouted.

"Here, Walter, take the helm," cried the mate, "but work away on the
starboard side; I will get a rope ready to heave to Nub."

Walter did as directed, and their raft was soon brought up alongside the
other, when Nub, having secured the rope hove to him, in his eagerness
forgot the difference of their rank, and sprang forward with delight to
embrace the ol