But no! they each and all declared sleep to be impossible under the circumstances. And they continued to sit around the table with their arms laid on its top and their heads buried In them, waiting for-- what? Who could tell? Meanwhile the ship was borne swiftly on by wind and wave--whither? None of these frightened women knew. Eight bells struck--twelve, midnight; and Ishmael renewed his entreaties that they would take some repose. But in vain; for they declared that there could be no repose for their bodies while their minds were suffering such intense anxiety. One bell struck, and there they sat; two bells, and there they still sat; and there was but little conversation after this. Three bells struck, and they sat on, so motionless that Ishmael hoped they had fallen asleep on their watch and he refrained from addressing them. Four bells struck. It was two o'clock in the morning, and dead silence reigned in the ladies' cabin. Everyone except Ishmael had gone to sleep. Suddenly through the stillness a cry rang--a joyous cry. It was the voice of the man on the lookout, and it shouted forth: "Land ho!" "Where away?" called another voice. "On her lee bow!" "What do you make of it?" "Cape Safety lighthouse!" A shout went up from the passengers on deck. A simultaneous, involuntary, joyous three times three. "Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" A devout thanksgiving ascended from Ishmael's heart: "Thank God!" he fervently exclaimed. It was indeed an infinite relief. Then he turned to wake up his wearied fellow-passengers, who had fallen asleep in such uneasy attitudes--arms folded, on the top of the table and heads fallen on the folded arms. "Ladies! dear ladies! dear Mrs. Kerr! you may retire to rest now. We have made Cape Safety," he said, going from one to another and gently rousing them. They were a little bewildered at first; and while they were still trying to understand what Ishmael was saying, the Scotch professor burst into the cabin and enlightened them by a coup-de-main. "You may all undress and go to bed now, and sleep in peace, without the least fear of a shipwreck." "Eh, pa! is it so--are we safe?" cried the elder daughter. "Safe as St. Paul's. We know where we are now. We have made Cape Safety Lighthouse. Go to bed and sleep easy. I'm going now. Come along, Jeanie," said the doctor to his old wife. "Not until I have shaken hands with this good young gentleman. I don't know what would have become of us, doctor, after you frightened us so badly, if it had not been for him. He stayed with us and kept up our hearts. God bless you, young sir!" said Mrs. Dr. Kerr, fervently pressing Ishmael's hands. Ishmael himself was glad to go to rest; so he only stopped long enough to bid good-night to Judge Merlin and Mr. Brudenell, who had just awakened to a sense of security, and then he went to his stateroom and turned in.