h, but every time he took a turn on deck he went back to
it and had a taste of the liquor. He very soon forgot that he had put
no water to it. This went on for some time till he sat himself down and
forgot another thing--that was, that he was in charge of a vessel on a
dark night, with a heavy gale blowing, and close in on a dangerous
coast. We had gone about several miles without any difficulty, when, as
we were once more standing in for the shore, a squall heavier than any
we had yet experienced struck the vessel and laid her over almost on her
beam-ends. At that moment the captain rushed on deck with the look of a
half-frantic man. He cast one hurried glance forward. "About ship!
about ship! down with the helm!" he shrieked out in a voice of terrific
loudness.

"All right--no fear, cap'en," cried the old mate, staggering up to him.
"I've taken very good care of the barkie."

At that instant a loud, grating, crushing sound was heard, and the brig
seemed to be about to spring over some obstacle in her way. Then she
stopped. Loud cries of horror arose from all hands, and the watch below
rushed on deck. All knew full well what had occurred. The brig was on
the rocks, and the sea, in dark masses with snowy crests, came roaring
up around us, threatening us with instant destruction. What reply the
captain made to the old man I dare not repeat. Before I thought of
anything else, I remembered my own rash oath. "Am I doomed to cause the
destruction of every vessel I sail aboard?" I said to myself, with a
groan of anguish, and a voice within me seemed to reply, "Yes--that is
to be your fate; but leap overboard and end it, and you will disappoint
the malignity of the monarch of the tempest." Happily the prayers my
good grandmother had taught me had not all been forgotten. At that
moment I uttered a prayer for mercy and forgiveness, and I knew then for
certainty that the instigation had come from the evil one for the
purpose of destroying me body and soul. "O God, have mercy on me; do
what is best," I cried. Just then I was aroused by hearing the loud
voice of the captain ordering the crew to get out the long-boat. I
hurried to lend a hand at the work. It seemed, however, almost a
hopeless undertaking, so high ran the sea around us. Fortunately the
masts still stood. We got the tackles hooked on to the yards, and,
casting in oars and boat-hook and sails, hoisted away with a will. The
boat swung clear of th