CH. IX.] A Skip in Distress. 151 



made the light on the waters appear more 



like day than night, I clearly saw on the 



horizon the upper part of a ship's masts, with 



some sails bent to their yards, and all heeled 



over as if the ship were then about to 



founder, and I gave a loud exclamation ; but 



an old sailor put his hand on my shoulder 



and called in my ear, " All right, master, all 



right ! We have watched her for a quarter of 



an hour trying to make the point of the 



sands yonder, and she is now past them and 



has an open sea. She is as safe as you are 



now, thank God ; but it was a near shave, and 



we thought she and all in her were gone." 



Often since then in my dreams I have seen 



that wind-tossed sea, and heard the roar of 



the waters and the screams of the storm, and 



seen those masts and sails heeling over, and 



have awoke with a start and dread fear in 



my heart. 



I had been tired when I came in from 



6 



