ars a crown of gold, and in his
right hand carries a book,--an open book. I look again,--it is the
Bible. They read the book as they swim, and it gives them strength to
persevere; for sharks rise up to threaten them, and other monsters of
the deep. And now land appears, the very island we have left, and two
or more swim towards it, and the savage inhabitants come out in their
canoes to attack them, and I tremble for their fate; but the swimmers
hold up their Bibles, and the savages let them pass, and follow slowly.
Soon the swimmers land, and numbers collect round them and listen
attentively while they read. Weapons are cast away,--the countenances
of the islanders are no longer savage. They kneel,--they clasp their
hands--they lift up their eyes towards heaven,--their lips move in
prayer. They soon appear well clothed, parents with their children
dwelling in neat cottages, and lo! a large edifice rises before my eyes:
it is a house of God. A bell sounds, and from every side come men,
women, and children all neatly clad; and then the words of a hymn strike
my ear. The music is sweet, but the words are strange. It grows louder
and louder, till I hear the cry of "All hands shorten sail!"

I spring on deck. The ship has been struck by a squall; she is almost
on her beam-ends. It is blowing heavily, the thunder rolls along the
sky, the lightning flashes vividly. Not without difficulty the canvas
is got off her. Once more she rights, and now away she flies before the
gale. The sea rises covered with foam. Still she flies on. We prepare
to heave her to; for thus running on, with coral islands abounding, may
prove our destruction. It is a moment of anxiety, for it is questioned
whether the canvas will stand. It requires all hands, and even then our
strength is scarce sufficient for the work. We, under circumstances
like these, see the true character of men. Golding, hitherto so daring
and boastful, trembles like an aspen leaf. He believes that the ship is
going down, and dares not look death in the face. I may write what I
feel: "Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe," as says
Solomon, and as his father David had often said in other words before
him. It is this knowledge makes the truly bold and brave seaman at all
times.

This night is one truly to make a stout heart sink not thus supported.
At the main-mast-head appears a ball of fire. Now it descends,--now it
runs along the main-yard-arm