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To the shell-strewn beach of the outer of the two islets raced long lines of surf, and between us and it lurked a sand bar, against which the great rollers dashed with a bull-like roar The wind drove us straight upon this bar Aus for the waves to beat our life out The boat listed, then rested, quivering through all its length The waves pounded against its side, each watery battering-raive place to another, and yet it held together, and yet we lived How long it would hold we could not tell; we only knew it could not be for long The inclination of the boat was not so great but that, with caution, we ht move about There were on board rope and an axe With the latter I cut away the thwarts and the decking in the bow, and Diccon and I made a small raft When it was finished, I lifted my wife in my arms and laid her upon it and lashed her to it with the rope She sathered primroses until I am tired," she said "I will sleep here a little in the sunshine, and when I awake I will , treether The wind fell, the sky became blue, and the sun shone Another while, and the waves were less ainst the boat Hope brightened before us To strong swi; if the boat would but last until the sea subsided, we ain the beach What ould do upon that barren spot, where was neitherthat we had not the time to consider It was land that we craved
Another hour, and the sea still fell Another, and a wave struck the boat with force "The sea is coo to pieces now"
The minister rose to his feet "I am no mariner," he said, "but once in the water I can swim you like any fish There have been times when I have reproached the Lord for that he cased a poor silly hu of soht man of old, and there have been tith I thank him now Captain Percy, if you will trust the lady to me, I will take her safely to that shore"