The mortal affliction is past,
The age that in heaven they spend,
For ever and ever shall last.”
“And so,” doubtless it will be said, “you want to make them all religious, before the ship went down?” We would, indeed, kind reader, that we could cherish this hope concerning all, for then the light behind the cloud would increase in brightness every day. As sinful men opposed to God we would have had all on board believers in the Great Reconciler, who can make both one, and fill the souls of those who trust Him with the most blessed assurance that there is no longer any gulf of separation between them. Where there is this faith there is no fear, neither of dying, nor of what lies beyond death.
And, reader, in the hour that is before thee, as surely as it was before those that went down in the Bay of Biscay, it is only this faith in Christ that can impart courageous strength to thine own spirit, and solid consolation to the mourners who will presently bewail thee gone. If thou hast it, thou wilt go thy journey undismayed, while the heaven, to which thou art gone will shine brightly behind the cloud, and tell those who grieve thine absence most, that they need not sorrow as those who have no hope.
CHAPTER XI.
THE ESCAPE.
Nineteen persons had entered the port cutter. These consisted of the second and third engineers, one fireman, the boatswain’s mate, the quartermaster, the carpenter’s mate, the steward, the boatswain’s boy, five able seamen, and three passengers. They had received their course from the now drowned Captain—N.N.E. to Brest, which was 190 miles distant, and they had compasses on board. Under the direction of King, the men agreed, that whatever might happen they would sit immoveable, except when pulling at the oars. Two worked at each oar, and they ran before the sea. Both Daniell and King deserve the highest praise for their skill in steering the feeble craft over the raging waters, but it was pleasant to find them both modest and seamanlike in all they said about it.
“I believe you took charge of the boat, didn’t you, Daniell?”
“Well, I pulled an oar sometimes, and sometimes steered. I took no particular charge of the boat, but I gave my opinion and advice now and then.”