A NOBLE GREW. 



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hours on the flooded decks, and Lyon himself did not leave for his berth till exhausted 

 after three nights' watching-. Few on board expected to survive the gale. Still, every 

 precaution was taken for the comfort of the men, who were ordered to put on their best 

 and warmest clothing to support life as long as possible. The officers each secured some 

 useful instrument for future work, if, indeed, the slightest hope remained. "And now/' 

 says Lyon, "that everything in our power had been done, I called all hands aft, and to 

 a merciful God offered prayers for our preservation. I thanked every one for their excellent 



CAPTAIN LYON AND HIS CREAV OFFERING PRAYERS FOR THEIR PRESERVATION. 



conduct, and cautioned them, as we should, in all probability, soon appear before our 

 Maker, to enter His presence as men resigned to their fate. We then all sat down in 

 groups, and, sheltered from the wash of the sea by whatever we could find, many of us 

 endeavoured to obtain a little sleep. Never, perhaps, was witnessed a finer scene 

 than on the deck of my little ship, when all hope of life had left us. Noble as the 

 character of the British sailor is always allowed to be in cases of danger, yet I did not 

 believe it to be possible that among forty-one persons not one repining word should have 

 been uttered. The officers sat about wherever they could find shelter from the sea, and 

 the men lay down, conversing with each other with the most perfect calmness. Each was 

 at peace with his neighbour and all the world; and I am firmly persuaded that the resig- 

 nation which was then shown to the will of the Almighty was the means of obtaining 

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