100 THE WHALEMAN ; OR, 



made for our rescue ! The ship is soon on her 

 way, and out of sight. If hope was ever sud- 

 denly and unexpectedly revived, it was then ; if 

 hope was ever suddenly cast down to its lowest 

 depths, it was then. 



Nor could our eyes hardly believe what we 

 were beholding. Was it all illusion, dream, or 

 magic ? No ; it was a reality. We had been 

 tantalized. The cup of the greatest earthly 

 blessing had been held to our lips, and yet we 

 were not allowed to drink of it, but it was dashed 

 to the earth in our very presence. The departure 

 of that ship was the departure of mercies to us, 

 to procure which we would have been willing to 

 make the greatest earthly sacrifice. 



What a day of joy and sorrow was that to us ! 

 How many hitherto downcast countenances were 

 lighted up! What words of good cheer passed 

 from one to another ! How many hearts bound- 

 ed with thankfulness and gratitude at the thought 

 of so speedy a deliverance ! 



Our families and friends at home were thus 

 far ignorant of the distressing scenes through 

 which we had passed, and also of our present 

 condition ; but ere long, as we believed, on our 

 arrival at the islands, we should communicate 

 to them the wreck of our ship, the loss of the 

 voyage, and the fortunate rescue of so many of 

 our number from a watery grave. 



