They stood intently watching the sail, too anxious to talk. Already the shades of night were stealing over the ocean. The sun went down, and the vessel’s white canvas changed to an inky hue. Still the mate could discern her, and he declared that she was a brigantine or a square-topsail schooner. Gradually, however, the wind dropped, and the ocean assumed a glass-like appearance. There could be little doubt that by this time the stranger was becalmed. But darkness now came on, and completely shut her out from sight.
The mate having struck a light, the fire soon blazed up brightly. “Put on more faggots, Nub,” he cried. “She may stand nearer the shore if the breeze gets up again; but she is as likely to stand away from us, and we may not have so good an opportunity of being seen as now.”
Walter ran off to a distance, so as to be out of the glare of the fire, and peered with all his might into the darkness; but no vessel could he see, and he began to fear that she must, as the mate had thought probable, have stood away from the land. His heart fell, but he did not like to tell Alice.
All of them were still too anxious to leave the spot. They were at length joined by the doctor, who surmised where they had gone from seeing the glare of the fire in the distance. The mate advised Alice and Walter to go back to the house; but they both declared that they should not sleep a wink, and would much rather remain where they were. “Perhaps the fire may be seen, and a boat sent on shore from the vessel to ascertain the cause of it,” said Walter.
“She is too far off, I suspect, for the fire to be seen,” answered the mate. “We must have patience. Daylight will come at last, and the matter will then be settled.”
“But suppose she has sailed away,” said Walter.
“Oh, don’t think of such a dreadful thing,” cried Alice.
“If she has, we must have patience still,” said the mate. “We talk a good deal about putting our trust in God; this is an occasion which will show whether our trust is real. We are always to trust Him.”
“So I try to do,” said Alice. “I will not doubt again that He will order all things for the best.”
“Well, my little girl, you must take my advice, and go back to the house with your brother. Your staying here won’t bring the vessel nearer; and I will send for you at daybreak should she be seen.”