we drove, farther and farther to the east, our view now confined
to the sides of the two seas, in the dark trough between which we
floated, seemingly about to be swallowed up, and now lifted on the
summit of a foam-crested billow to the tumultuous mountain masses of
water which madly leaped and danced one beyond the other till lost in
the line where the murky sky sunk over the seething caldron. We had an
abundance of provisions on board, but for many hours anxiety prevented
any one of us from wishing to partake of them, even the rough seamen
seemed indifferent about the matter. At length, however, Mr Bent and I
agreed that Mary ought to take some food, which, after a blessing had
been asked for, she did, the rest of the party following her example.

We all felt wonderfully refreshed, and hope revived in the hearts of the
most desponding. Still we could scarcely dare to conjecture by what
means we should be saved. We could not conceal from ourselves that the
gale might continue to blow for many days, and that we might be driven
far away to the east, whence a long time would be occupied in returning,
or that we might be thrown on one of the numberless coral reefs of those
seas, or hurled against some rocky shore and be dashed to pieces, while
we knew that any moment some cross sea might strike us and send us to
the bottom. I have heard of people's hair turning grey in a single
night. The anxiety I began to feel the moment I allowed myself to dwell
on our too possible fate would quickly have turned my hair grey, and yet
directly I turned my gaze upward, and put my trust in Him who said to
the waves, "Peace, be still," all my anxious fears vanished, and hope
came back strong as ever. The missionary all the time maintained the
most perfect and beautiful equanimity, not speaking much, but
occasionally offering a few words of encouragement to his daughter. She
looked up in his face and smiled.

"I have no fear," she said, calmly. "We cannot be separated, dear
father. Should the ocean overwhelm us, we shall together begin a joyful
eternity. You have taught me that our Redeemer liveth. `I know in whom
I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I
have committed unto Him against that day.'" This hope gave her courage
when others would have shrieked with fear.

The gale continued, the boat driven before it. The night approached.
Darkness came down on the face of the waters. Oh, the horrors