presiding care of Him who walked the waves! Without His especial arm
we must all have perished in this awful night; therefore let our
thanksgivings be directed to Him alone."

"So be it!" returned the earl, and dropping on his knees, he breathed
forth so pathetic and sublime a prayer of thanks, that the countess
trembled, and bent her head upon the bosom of her child. She could not
utter the solemn Amen, that was repeated by every voice in the cave.
Her unhappy infatuation saw no higher power in this great preservation
than the hand of the man she adored. She felt that guilt was cherished
in her heart; and she could not lift her eyes to join with those who,
with the boldness of innocence, called on Heaven to attest the sanctity
of their vows.

Sleep soon sealed every weary eye, excepting those of Wallace. A
racking anxiety respecting the fate of the other vessel, in which were
the brave men of Bothwell, and his two dear friends, filled his mind
with dreadful forebodings that they had not outlived the storm.
Sometimes, when wearied nature for a few minutes sunk into slumber, he
would start, grief-struck, from the body of Edwin floating on the briny
flood, and as he awoke, a cold despondence would tell him that his
dream was, perhaps, too true. "Oh! I love thee, Edwin!" exclaimed he
to himself; "and if my devoted heart was to be separated from all but a
patriot's love!-why did I think of loving thee?-must thou, too, die,
that Scotland may have no rival, that Wallace may feel himself quite
alone!"

Thus he sat musing, and listening, with many a sigh, to the yelling
gusts of wind, and louder roaring of the water. At last the former
gradually subsided, and the latter, obeying the retreating ride, rolled