short of a miracle that we did not all of us go down with the ship."

The widow covered her face with her hands and breathed a silent prayer
of thankfulness. It was already night again, and steering by the stars
the mate laid his course, after affording a spare sail to cover the
mother and her daughter, who having partaken of some needed refreshment,
the first for many hours, were soon lost in sleep, induced by the great
bodily fatigue and physical exertion they had so lately encountered in
this emergency.

The men stood watch and watch, relieving each other at intervals
throughout the night, while the boat with its two lugger sails crept on
steadily upon its course.

It was remarkable to observe the delicacy observed by those three seamen
towards the widow and her daughter, to mark their assiduity towards them
as to their necessities and their wants; while they, on their part, were
patient, uncomplaining and grateful. The second and third day passed on,
when the mate calculated they were steering direct for the nearest point
of land which they could not fail to reach in another day, it being the
coast of Africa. His calculations were made under disadvantages, but he
felt confident of their correctness. The weather, fortunately, had been
very calm and pleasant thus far, since the gale had subsided, and the
frail craft thus exposed upon the ocean had really proved quite
comfortable and weatherly for the time being. A snug little apology for
a cabin had been constructed over the forward part of the boat, into
which the ladies could retire at nightfall, and become secure from the
weather and be entirely by themselves; and under the circumstances they
were really quite comfortable, that is to say, they experienced little
exposure to the elements at night, and slept securely in their narrow