nd the straining mast and shrouds threatened every
instant to yield to the fury of the tempest. If there was danger where
we were, it was still greater near the submerged forest on either side;
for the lofty trees, their roots loosened by the rushing water, were
continually falling, and one of them coming down upon our vessel would
quickly have crushed her, and sent her helplessly to the bottom.

Marian behaved like a true heroine, and terrific as was the scene, she
endeavoured to keep up her own courage and that of all on board.

Hour after hour the little vessel struggled on amid the waves, till at
length a blast more furious than any of its predecessors struck her,
heeling her over, so that it appeared as if she would never rise again.
Her sails were blown to ribbons, and the sea carried away her rudder.
Now utterly helpless, she drove before the gale; which, shifting to the
northward, blew directly across the stream, bearing us towards the
submerged forest, where the waves as they rolled along dashed up amid
the tall trees, sending the spray high over their branches.

On and on the vessel drove. A heavy sea rolling up filled our boat,
towing astern, and, for our own safety, we were compelled to cut her
adrift. Before us arose out of the water a large tree with
widespreading branches; and in a few minutes the vessel drove violently
against it. Her bowsprit was carried away, and a huge rent made in her
bows, when she bounded off; but it was only to drive helplessly further
on. Every moment we expected to see the trees which were bending above
our heads come down and crush us. Again the wind shifted, and we found
ourselves drifting along by the edge of the forest. We endeavoured to
get a rope round the trunk of one of the trees, but the effort was vain.
Peter and another of the crew, in attempting to do so, were dragged
overboard. We heard their cries, but we were unable to assist them, and
they were quickly lost to sight in the darkness.

On and on we drove. The water was now rushing into the vessel, and
every instant we expected that she would go down. All chance of saving
her was abandoned; and our only hope was that she might be driven
against some tree, into the branches of which we might clamber for
temporary safety. The roaring of the waves, the howling of the wind
amid the branches, the dashing waters, and the crashing of the boughs
torn off by the tempest, created a deafening uproar which almost d