A NIGHT'S PERIL. 151 



the waters were boiling around me, the greedy waves 

 sucked me under ; but I held fast the friendly rope. 

 I Avas drawn on board, but not without some diffi- 

 culty ; for my prolonged exertions had severely tried 

 my powers of endurance, and I could hardly hold on 

 long enough. But saved we were. As I trod the 

 schooner's deck, as I saw her make sail, and brave 

 the elements which had so nearly wrought our de- 

 struction, I felt as though I had seen an angel's arm 

 stretched forth to pluck us from the gulf of waters. 

 I wanted no explanation of the causes which had led 

 her forth ; she had met us in extremity, and was to 

 me the arm of Providence. The rescue is as provi- 

 dential in cases where the peril is over in a moment. 

 But there does not seem to be room for such deep 

 impression, where peril merely flashes as the light- 

 ning across one's path. The bitterness of death must 

 be tasted by him who is to appreciate the sweetness 

 of deliverance. 



On board, we found ourselves in familiar company. 

 Several of our friends were there, and gave us the 

 history of our rescue. At the time when the squall 

 had come on, the other boats had been, as I have 

 said, well ahead of us, and clear of the reef. Some 

 of them had had a little trouble in getting to their 

 moorings, but all were present at muster except our- 

 selves. This would not perhaps have alarmed them, 

 had not the hours continued to pass away without 

 our appearance. By and by their fears were fully 



