lding aloft a
golden crucifix, which I thought the wind would have blown out of his
hand, but he must have been a powerful man, and he grasped it fast.
Assisting to support him and it were two monks in dark dresses, kneeling
on the deck on either side of him. Around them knelt and clung, holding
on to each other, a number of men and women, and among them were some
little children, holding up their tiny hands in supplication towards the
crucifix. Of course, no sound could reach us, but there seemed to be
much wailing, and crying, and groaning. Some were stretching out their
arms, others were beating their breasts and tearing their hair. The
priest stood unmoved, with head erect, uttering prayers, or pronouncing
absolution. At some distance from them were a couple, not to be
overlooked either. One was a fine handsome young man, in the uniform of
a military officer; the other a young and beautiful girl, who lay nearly
fainting in his arms. He looked towards us eagerly, hopefully, as if he
fancied that he would plunge with his precious charge into the water. I
thought that at that moment he was going to make the daring leap. Some
of the officers of the ship were gathered round the wheel. Just then
the helm was put down, and we saw some of them with blows and threats
urging the drunken crew to take in the headsails, leaving the
maintopsail only to steady the ship. In the operation, however,
carelessly performed, the sails were blown to ribbons, and the ship
drifted away to leeward of us. She had before this evidently suffered
severely. Her boats were gone; her bulwarks in many places stove in;
and her bowsprit and foretopmast had been carried away, while, of
course, still more serious damage had been sustained in her hull.

"Shall we be able to do anything for all those poor people?" I asked of
Peter, who stood near me.

"No, Jack, we shall not," he answered; "man can't help them. This ship,
by the look of her, will not keep above water another half-hour; and
then Heaven have mercy on their souls! I doubt if the captain will
venture to lower a boat in this sea to attempt to save them, or if a
boat could lift if he did."

"It's very dreadful," said I.

"Yes, Jack; but it's the lot all sailors must be prepared for," answered
Peter. "Remember, it may be my fate or yours one of these days. We
should not be afraid; but I repeat it, Jack, we should be prepared." I
did not quite understand Peter then.

"The