He reached the shore, no longer hailed with delight as his native soil. He forgot that in one moment the savings of his lifetime had been engulphed by the treacherous waves. Ho forgot everything in his wild searchings for his boy; and at last was forced to carry bitter, bitter sorrow and anguish to the hearts waiting with buoyant expectation for the coming of their loved ones.
In the mean time Frank was not dead. When he felt the terrible crash which rent the vessel asunder, with one bound he sprang from the parted ship on board the Josephine, which caused the fatal catastrophe.
It was not until the sun was several hours high that Captain Monroe, who commanded the vessel bound to Calcutta, discovered a boy leaning over the side of the ship, weeping bitterly.
He approached him quickly, inquiring, "What is the matter, my lad; and how did you come on board the Josephine?"
Frank narrated his wonderful escape from the parted vessel, and was then led on to give an account of himself and the bitter disappointment he had experienced in being obliged to go to sea again without visiting his parents.
"They will think I am dead!" exclaimed the boy, in a passion of grief; "and my uncle, if he is alive, will blame himself that he persuaded mother to let me go with him."
"What is your uncle's name?" asked the sympathizing captain.
"His name is James Taylor. The commander of the vessel."
"Ah! why, he is one of my dearest friends!"
"Do you think he was drowned?"