igate as Jim the Methodist,
but was respected by the greater number of his shipmates. "Never fear,
mates, help will come if we pray for it, though we don't see the Hand
which sends it. Let us pray."

Jim's words and example had a great effect. It was followed by all, and
the united prayers of the seamen, acknowledging their own utter
helplessness, ascended together on high. One and all seemed to gain a
strength they had not before felt. The raft continued to be tossed
about as before, and the hot wind blew, and the sun shone on their
unsheltered heads. The sun rose higher and higher and then descended,
watched anxiously by the seamen till it dipped below the horizon. Could
any of them expect to see another sun arise? They seldom spoke to each
other during the night. The voice of Jim Croxton was now most
frequently heard, exhorting his companions to repentance, and to put
their faith in the loving and merciful One. When the morning broke they
were all alive, and the voice of Reuben, who had dragged himself upright
by the mast, was heard crying, "A sail! a sail! standing towards us!"

The information was received in various ways by the people on the raft;
some laughed, others wept, a few prayed, and others groaned, declaring
that they should not be seen, and that the ship would pass them by. Old
Croxton, however, who had simply poured forth his heart in a few words
of thanksgiving, kept his eyes steadily on the approaching ship.

"She is nearing us! she is nearing us!" he uttered slowly every now and
then.

Paul gasped his breath, and felt as if he should faint away altogether,
as he saw that the ship was a British man-of-war, and that the raft was
evidently perceived by those on board. She drew nearer and nearer, and,
heaving to, lowered two boats, which rapidly approached the raft. In
that tumbling sea there was no small difficulty in getting close enough
to the raft to take off the people. Paul, as the youngest, was the
first to be transferred by his companions to the nearest boat. Even at
that moment he was struck by the expression of the countenances of most
of the crew. No one smiled; no one seemed pleased at the work of mercy
they were performing.

"You think, youngster, that you'll be changing for the better, getting
off your raft aboard that frigate there?" growled out one of the men, as
Paul was passed along forward. "You've got out of the frying-pan into
the fire, let me tell you. It's a