Then she remembered that though no human friend knew of their danger, a Father's eye was upon them, a Father's ear could hear their cry for help. She recalled the words Mr. Gilbank had spoken concerning the "Father-King, all-mighty and all-loving."
"Coral!" she exclaimed, hope ringing in her voice. "Let us pray to God. We ought to have thought of that before. He can help us, if no one else can."
"Do you think He really can?" asked Coral sceptically, as with frightened eyes she watched the progress of the waves.
"IF WE MUST BE DROWNED,
LET US HOLD EACH OTHER TIGHTLY."
"Why, Coral, of course He can," returned Beryl. "Don't you remember how He saved Daniel in the lions' den, and Moses when he was left by the side of the river in the ark of bulrushes? And oh! Don't you know the story Mr. Gilbank told us of how God made a path right through the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk over? I'm sure if He did that, He can save you and me from being drowned."
"But what will He do?" asked Coral anxiously. "Will He make the waves go back?"
"I can't tell what He will do," said Beryl; "but I know He can save us if He will. And if He means us to die," she added, her voice suddenly faltering, "let us ask Him to make us good, and take us to heaven, for Jesus Christ's sake."
And so Beryl prayed in simple, childish words, coming from a heart strong in faith; and Coral tried to follow, but could not attend for her terror of the quickly advancing waves.
The water was already high about the children, a little longer, and it would sweep them away to death. As Beryl ended her prayer, her eyes fell upon the ledge of rock above her head, and the dark hole which she had fancied would make a convenient cupboard. The thought struck her that if they could climb to that, they would be for a time above the reach of the waves.