"Two blacks don't make a white, friend," said Adam, good-naturedly.
"Blasphemy, or hypocrisy either, is sufficient to sink the ship."

Night was now fast closing over the storm-tossed voyagers. The boat was
half full of water, which flowed over Flora's lap, and she began to feel
very apprehensive for the safety of her child. At this moment, a large
retriever dog which belonged to the captain of the boat, crept into her
lap; and she joyfully placed the baby upon his shaggy back, and the
warmth of the animal seemed greatly to revive the poor shivering Josey.

It was nearly dark when Palmer roused Lyndsay from his stupor, and
suggested the propriety of their return to ----. "You see, Sir," he
said, "I am quite willing to wait for the arrival of the _Soho_, but
something must have gone wrong with her, or she would have been down
before this. The crew of the boat have been now ten hours exposed to
the storm, without a morsel of food, and if the wind should change, we
should have to run in for the Port of Y----, twenty miles distant from
this. Under existing circumstances, I think it advisable to return."

"By all means," said Lyndsay. "This might have been done three hours
ago;" and the next minute, to Flora's inexpressible joy, the anchor
was hoisted, and the gallant boat once more careering over the mighty
billows.

Her face was once more turned towards that dear home, to which she
had bidden adieu in the morning; as she then imagined, for
ever--"England"--she cried, stretching her arms towards the dusky
shore. "Dear England! The winds and waves forbid our leaving you.
Welcome,--oh, welcome, once more."

As they neared the beach, the stormy clouds parted in rifted masses; and
the deep blue heavens, studded here and there with a pale star, gleamed
lovingly down upon them; the rain ceased its pitiless pelting, the very
elements seemed to smile upon their return.

The pilot boat had been reported during the day as lost, and the beach
was crowded with anxious men and women to hail its return. The wives and
children of her crew pressed forward to meet them with joyful
acclamations; and Flora's depressed spirits rose with the excitement of
the scene.

"Hold fast your baby, Mrs. Lyndsay, while the boat clears the surf,"
cried Palmer. "I'll warrant that you both get a fresh ducking."

As he spoke, the noble boat cut like an arrow through the line of
formidable breakers which thundered on the beach; the foam flew in
fea