u we were sent into the world not only to
abstain from sin, but to do as much good as we can--to actively employ
ourselves--to look about us to see how we can do good,--not to wait till
some opportunity occurs that may never come. But we are certain to find
some good work if we look for it; and if your heart is right towards
God, and you earnestly wish to serve him, and not the world, and not
yourself, he will point out to you what to do."

The conversation was interrupted by a heavy lurch the ship made, which
sent Jerry and me tumbling away into the lee scuppers; a huge sea at the
same moment came rolling up with a foaming crest towards us. It caught
the brig broad on the bow--up it rose like a wall, and then with a loud
angry roar fell right over us. I felt myself swimming in deep water,
with my mouth full and almost blinded. I heard Jerry's cry close to me.
The dreadful thought occurred to me that we were both overboard, and
the utter impossibility of lowering a boat to save us flashed across me.
I shrieked out for help. A whirl--a confused sound of roaring, hissing
waters--a sensation of battling and struggling with them--an eager
desire to clutch at something,--are all I remember. Down came the gale
on the ship with greater fury than before--another sea from the opposite
quarter struck her. I felt myself grasped by a strong arm, and when I
opened my eyes, I saw that I was being dragged up to windward by Cousin
Silas, who, at the imminent risk of losing his own life, had sprung out
with a rope in his hand and hauled me on board again.

"Oh, where is Jerry--where is Jerry?" were the first words I uttered.
No one answered. "Oh, he is lost! he is lost!" I cried, and burst into
tears, forgetting altogether to thank Cousin Silas for having saved me.
I felt that I could never survive the loss of my young shipmate. Just
then I saw several of the crew running to leeward. Two or three heads
were in the water, with arms wildly striking out. Shrieks, too, rung in
my ears. Ben Yool was among them; I saw his face clearly; he did not
seem alarmed, like the rest. A long rope was hove to him. He grasped
it. He struck out towards another of the swimmers; it was Jerry. Ben
seized him in one of his arms, while he was striking out with the other.
There seemed, however, but little chance for him of escaping with his
life; for when the ship again surged ahead, the rope would have been
torn from his grasp, but just then a