n hoisted their sail. I watched
the raft as long as it could be seen, standing directly before the wind
to the northward; and I remember at the time my heart misgave me, and I
feared that I should never again see my kind but eccentric friend. If a
sea should get up, I thought they in all probability would be drowned.
I felt very grateful, also, that I had decided to remain. However, I
was too weary to think much about any subject, and I was very shortly
again fast asleep on the deck.

As suffering and misery will, after a time, come to an end, and it would
be well if we could always remember this when we ourselves are in that
condition, so did this night of dark horror, and another morning dawned
on the burning wreck. Clouds, streaked with bright red edges, were
gathering on the eastern horizon, as I went aloft to look out for a
sail, though with little expectation of seeing one. I had just reached
the main-topgallant-mast head, and was sweeping my eyes round the
horizon, when I saw, just under the brightest part of the glow caused by
the rising sun, a dark spot, which I thought must be the topsail of some
square-rigged craft. I looked again; I felt that I could not be
mistaken. I shouted out the joyful intelligence--

"Sail ho!--ho!--over the larboard quarter."

Instantly the second mate, followed by several others, who had strength
remaining, ran aloft to ascertain the fact. They also all clearly saw
the ship. The people in the boats understood what we were pointing at,
and a feeble shout, indicative of their joy, rose from all hands. The
question now was, which way she was steering. If to the westward, we
had a good chance of being seen by her; but if not, she might pass us by
unheeded. This uncertainty was, perhaps, still more painful to endure
than our previous hopelessness.

While we were watching the stranger, the clouds gathered thicker in the
sky, and the sea began perceptibly to get up, though as yet there was no
increase of wind. "I don't altogether like the look of things,"
observed Derrick to me. "The sea getting up before the wind comes is a
pretty sure sign of a heavy gale; and if it does come on to blow, Lord
help us, my boy!"

"Amen," said a deep voice near us, which startled me. It seemed not
like that of a mortal; it was, however, that of Father Slattery, who was
at that instant passing us. "And so, my son, you think there is more
danger than before?" he asked.

"If it comes on