and that the last of the crew had just left the ship. I cried out for
the men to come back and take us with them, but it was in vain.

I then thought that our last chance was gone. Still, as I felt the ship
did not sink, I went to the stern, and found, to my joy, that she was
held up by a piece of rock on each side, and made fast like a wedge. At
the same time I saw some trace of land, which lay to the south, and
this made me go back with some hope that we had still a faint chance.

As soon as I got down stairs I took my wife by the hand, and said, "Be
of good cheer, we are at least safe for some time, and if the wind
should veer round, we may yet reach the land that lies but a short way
off."

I said this to calm the fears of my wife and sons, and it did so far
more than I had a right to hope.

"Let us now take some food," said my wife. "We are sure to need it, for
this will no doubt be a night to try our strength."

My wife got some food for her boys, which we were glad to see them eat,
poor as it was; but we could not share their meal. Three out of the
four were put to bed in their berths, and soon went to sleep; but
Fritz, who was our first child, would not leave us. He said, like a
good son, that he would try to be of some use, and think what could be
done.

"If we could but find some cork," said Fritz to me in a low tone, "we
might make floats. You and I will not need them, for we can swim, but
the rest will want some such means to keep them up."