When, however, the most imminent danger was over, Wenlock cast his eye in the direction in which she had last been seen. In vain he looked out on either side; no sail was visible. Others also now began to make inquiries for the _John Sarah_. Many had friends on board. Too probably, struck by the furious blast, she had gone down. Sad were the forebodings of all as to her fate. Such might have been theirs. Human nature is sadly selfish, and many were rather inclined to congratulate themselves on their escape, than to mourn for the supposed fate of their countrymen. On, on flew the _Amity_ towards the south, far away from the Delaware, from the land to which she was bound. The dark foam-crested seas rose up on every side, hissing and roaring, and threatening to overwhelm her. Still the brave captain kept up his courage, and endeavoured to keep up that of those on board. "We must get jury-masts up," he said, "when the storm abates; and plying to the north, endeavour to regain the ground we have lost." "Verily we had a fierce gale, friend Christison," said Ford, coming up to Wenlock when the weather once more moderated. "Didst not thou fear greatly?" "No," answered Wenlock; "though it seemed to me that the ship might probably go down." "Ah! truly, I felt very brave too," said Ford. "You took an odd way of showing it," answered Wenlock, who had observed the abject fear into which his companion had been thrown. "Ah! yea, I might have somewhat trembled, but that was more for the thought of others than for myself," said Ford. "And now tell me, when dost thou think we shall arrive at our destination?" "That is more than any one on board can say," said Wenlock; "but we must do all that men can do, and leave the rest to Him who rules the sea!" All hands were now engaged in getting the ship to rights. Scarcely however had jury-masts been set up, than signs of another storm appeared in the sky. "I like not the look of the weather," observed the captain. "Christison, your eyes are sharp; is that a sail away to the north-east?" "Yes, verily," answered Wenlock. "Can it be our consort?" "No; she would not appear in that quarter. She is a stranger, and seems to be coming rapidly on towards us," observed Wenlock, after watching her for little time. "A tall ship too, I suspect." Captain Dinan had hoped before this to haul up to the wind, but the increasing gale made this impossible. As, however, he was going out of his course, he only carried as much sail as necessity required. The stranger therefore came quickly up with the _Amity_. The captain now began to eye her very narrowly. "I like not her looks," he observed. "She is a war ship, and yet shows no colours." The captain asked his officers their opinion. They agreed with him. Bill Rullock, who was a man of experience, was called aft.