rest.

During the night, the wind howled and the rain beat down. The children
slept soundly, but Mr and Mrs Seagrave, Ready, and William were awake
during the whole of the night, listening to the storm, and occupied with
their own thoughts.

Ready was dressed before daylight, and out on the beach before the sun
had risen. The gale was at its height; and after a careful survey with
his telescope, he could see nothing of the vessel. He remained on the
beach till breakfast-time, when he was summoned by William, and returned
to the house. He found Mr and Mrs Seagrave up, and more composed than
they were the evening before; and they welcomed him warmly.

"I fear, Ready," said Mr Seagrave, "that you have no good news for us."

"No, sir; nor can you expect any good news until after the gale is over.
The vessel could not remain here during the gale--that is certain; and
there is no saying what the effects of the gale may be. She may lie to,
and not be far from us when the gale is over; or she may be obliged to
scud before the gale, and run some hundred miles from us. Then comes
the next chance. I think, by her running for the island, that she was
short of water; the question is, then, whether she may not find it
necessary to run for the port she is bound to, or water at some other
place. A captain of a vessel is bound to do his best for the owners.
At the same time I do think, that if she can with propriety come back
for us she will. The question is, first, whether she can; and,
secondly, whether the captain is a humane man, and will do so at his own
inconvenience."

"There is but poor comfort in all that," replied Mr Seagrave.

"It is useless holding out false hopes, sir," replied Ready; "but even
if the vessel continues her voyage, we have much to be thankful for."

"In what, Ready?"

"Why, sir, no one knew whether we were in existence or not, and probably
we never should have been searched for; but now we have made it known,
and by the ship's name on the flag they know who we are, and, if they
arrive safe in port, will not fail to communicate the intelligence to
your friends. Is not that a great deal to be thankful for? We may not
be taken off by this vessel, but we have every hope that another will be
sent out to us."

"Very true, Ready; I ought to have seen that before; but my despair and
disappointment were yesterday so great, that it almost took away my
reason."

The gale continued during the day,