t our lives to these
seamen, and how nobly they fulfil their trust! They are, under heaven,
as a providence for us. Whilst we sleep, their untiring watchfulness
keeps guard over us. All night through that bell sounds at its season,
and tells how our sentinels defend us. It rang when the "Amazon" was
on fire, and chimed its heroic signal of duty, and courage, and honor.
Think of the dangers these seamen undergo for us: the hourly peril and
watch; the familiar storm; the dreadful iceberg; the long winter nights
when the decks are as glass, and the sailor has to climb through icicles
to bend the stiff sail on the yard! Think of their courage and their
kindnesses in cold, in tempest, in hunger, in wreck! "The women and
children to the boats," says the captain of the "Birkenhead," and, with
the troops formed on the deck, and the crew obedient to the word of
glorious command, the immortal ship goes down. Read the story of the
"Sarah Sands:"--

"SARAH SANDS.

"The screw steamship 'Sarah Sands,' 1,330 registered tons, was chartered
by the East India Company in the autumn of 1858, for the conveyance of
troops to India. She was commanded by John Squire Castle. She took out a
part of the 54th Regiment, upwards of 350 persons, besides the wives and
children of some of the men, and the families of some of the officers.
All went well till the 11th November, when the ship had reached lat. 14
S., long. 56 E., upwards of 400 miles from the Mauritius.

"Between three and four P. M. on that day a very strong smell of fire
was perceived arising from the after-deck, and upon going below into
the hold, Captain Castle found it to be on fire, and immense volumes
of smoke arising from it. Endeavors were made to reach the seat of the
fire, but in vain; the smoke and heat were too much for the men.
There was, however, no confusion. Every order was obeyed with the same
coolness and courage with which it was given. The engine was immediately
stopped. All sail was taken in, and the ship brought to the wind, so as
to drive the smoke and fire, which was in the after-part of the ship,
astern. Others were, at the same time, getting fire-hoses fitted
and passed to the scene of the fire. The fire, however, continued to
increase, and attention was directed to the ammunition contained in
the powder-magazines, which were situated one on each side the ship
immediately above the fire. The star-board magazine was soon cleared.
But by this time the whole of