brave sailor managed to get upon her keel, but she floated away, at one moment poised on the top of a wave, and the next sinking out of sight. Another boat was lowered instantly, and the second mate, the boatswain, who had already come within a hair's-breadth of losing his life, and two young sailors, volunteered to man her, and attempt the rescue of their shipmates. Away they went. But the waves seemed to rise higher and the wind to blow stronger. We watched both boats with straining eyes, and the most painful feelings. I assure you, those noble fellows had not one chance in a thousand of ever reaching the ship again in safety. All the rest— four in number had disappeared from sight, and there was not the shadow of a possibility of their surviving. Two awful hours passed, and then the captain called his crew aft, and asked them if they thought it best to continue the search. After a moment of sad silence, they said, "No, there is no hope;" and the signal was given for the boat to return. But this was a difficult matter in such a sea. Without the most consummate seamanship, and the most absolute self-possession, as well as despotic command over others, on the captain's part, it could not have been done, and four more gallant fellows would have followed their companions to the bottom. His presence was everywhere; his voice seemed to fill the ship; the men were puppets in his hands and did exactly his bidding. As the boat neared the ship, he ordered the men on board what to do. They obeyed implicitly and instantly, though the orders, as one of them has since told me, were directly contrary to their own rapidly formed plan. Ropes were thrown to them, and they were safely got on board, amidst the joyful congratulations of sailors and passengers. So unexpected was this marvellous rescue, that we, for the moment, forgot the poor fellows who had two hours since passed into eternity, under our very eyes. Then returned the solemn and awful sense of what had happened; and then the ship made sail, and all was over. I need not say that this spectacle, which passed before my eyes, was the most terrible ever witnessed by me. But the skill, devotion, and energy shown by the captain, officers, and crew were sublime. In the midst of the horror, I could not help feeling this, too. I looked at the poor fellow, keeping his seat bravely on the keel of the distant boat; then at the four men in the second boat struggling to his rescue; then upon the captain, as he went aloft and gave his orders with the clearness of a trumpet, with a kind of spell-bound awe. But the might of the elements baffled the utmost that human skill, unconquerable devotion, and the noblest humanity could do. At eleven o'clock, a meeting was called in the cabin; and we passed resolutions and raised a subscription to procure some testimonial for those noble fellows who went out in the second boat. The forecastle. That part of the upper deck of a vessel which is forward of the foremast-the front part of a vessel. In merchant vessels, the word is applied to the forward part of the ship, under the deck, where the sailors sleep. Fore-top-gallant-sail.—Top-gallant is applied to the mast which is above the topmast. Fore-top-gallant is accordingly the mast which is above the topmast of the mast which is most forward on the deck. Fore-top-gallantsail is then the topmost sail on the foremast. Quadrant.-An instrument used on board ship to determine its position by reference to the sun's position in the sky. This process is called taking an observation. Was hove to.-To heave to is a sea-phrase, meaning to bring the ship's head to the wind, and so stop her motion. Boatswain.-Pronounced bōsn, an officer on board ship, who has charge of the boats. Davits.-Davits are two projecting beams of wood or iron on the sides or stern of a ship, used for hoisting the boats. They are so fixed as to admit of being shipped or unshipped at pleasure. EXERCISES. 1. Name and explain all the sea-phrases used in this lesson. 2. Explain these words and phrases--(a) The sea ran high; (b) With a tremendous strain upon the masts; (c) The boat had righted itself; (d) They volunteered to man the boat; (e) We watched with straining eyes; (f) Self-possession; (g) Despotic command; (h) The men were puppets in his hands; (i) I looked with a kind of spell-bound awe. 3. Give the composition of these words-companions, implicitly, congratulation, surviving, unconquerable, subscription. years an hotel has been built near the entrance, detracting from its once romantic appearance. Visitors first descend a well-like pit, into which a stream falls, by a flight of steps, and then passing under a high archway, proceed along a level road, to what are called the vats, where saltpetre was once manufactured. Their blazing torches, numerous as they may be, hardly light up the vast subterranean region. From the large hall they make their way through a low narrow passage, known as the “ Vale of Humility," into another hall of enormous extent, the roof so lofty that the torches scarcely illuminate either the walls or roof. At their feet can be seen the glitter of water, extending far away into the interior, a bright stream flowing over a rocky bed into it. Moving on, they in a short time reach Echo River, on the shore of which a boat is found. When looking upwards, it appears as if a canopy of black clouds hung over their heads. On either side can be seen precipitous cliffs, rising apparently into the sky. Silence and darkness reign around, the smooth sluggish water alone reflecting the glare of the torches. The visitors are not disposed to utter a word, until the voice of one of the native guides suddenly bursts forth into a melancholy chant, which seems as if echoed by the spirit of his departed brethren. Now the notes rise, now they fall, as he gives them forth with the full |