Mr. Seagrave
stood by him; his heart was too full for utterance, for he imagined
that as the boat increased her distance from the vessel, so did every
ray of hope depart, and that his wife and children, himself, and the
old man who was by his side were doomed to perish. His countenance was
that of a man in utter despair. At last old Ready spoke.
"They think that they will be saved and that we must perish, Mr.
Seagrave; they forget that there is a Power above, who will himself
decide that point - a power compared to which the efforts of weak man
are as nought."
"True," replied Mr. Seagrave, in a low voice; "but still what chance we
can have on a sinking ship, with so many helpless creatures around us,
I confess I cannot imagine."
"We must do our best, and submit to His will," replied Ready, who then
went aft, and shifted the helm, so as to put the ship again before the
wind.
As the old man had foretold to the seamen before they quitted the
vessel, the gale was now over, and the sea had gone down considerably.
The ship, however, dragged but slowly through the water, and after a
short time Ready lashed the wheel, and went forward. On his return to
the quarter-deck, he found Mr.
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