eyes open. Even, however, when I laid my head on the pillow, I
knew that any moment I might be awakened by the fearful crashing of the
ship striking on a coral reef, with the sound of our remaining mast
going by the board. Before going to sleep, however, I went into the
cabin, and entreated the ladies to lie down. Emily and Grace said they
would, and Mrs Davenport urged them to do so, but I found that she had
no intention herself of sleeping. She would, I guessed, sit up, and
watch and pray for her young charges. I, however, was scarcely in my
berth before I was fast asleep, in spite of the loud roaring of the
seas, the wild motion of the ship, and the howling of the wind in the
fore-rigging.

CHAPTER NINE.

THE MOLUCCAS.

Wonderful was the change which I found had taken place when I returned
on deck. The sun was shining brightly, the wind had fallen to a
moderate breeze. The sea, though heaving and dancing, sparkling
brightly in the sunbeams, had gone down considerably, but still blew
from the same quarter as before. The ship was standing to the east.

"We have passed through the Straits of Banca, and are crossing the
Molucca passage," said Mr Thudicumb, of whom I asked whereabouts we
were. "The captain proposes making for Ternate, which belongs to the
Dutch. We may hope there to get new masts--at all events, it is the
nearest place which we can reach with the wind as it is at present, and
have any hope of getting the ship put to rights."

All day long we were busily employed in repairing damages as far as we
could. I had but little time to exchange a word with Emily. I was
thankful to find, however, that she and Grace had quite recovered their
spirits, though they owned that they had been greatly frightened during
the hurricane.

"Still it is a comfort, Walter, to know that there is One who always
watches over us, and does everything for the best. If he had thought
fit to allow the ship to founder, I am very sure he would have had good
reason for so doing. Still, as I know he wishes us to pray for
blessings, I was praying all the time that we might be preserved, and
especially that no accident might happen to you, my dear brother. Oh,
how I thought of you when you were on deck, and the storm was blowing
and the masts being cut away, knowing the fearful danger to which you
were exposed."

It was soon after sunrise one morning, when, a light mist clearing away,
before us appeared, at some dis