The Settlers: A Tale of VirginiaKingston, William Henry Giles
History
The Settlers: A Tale of Virginia
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Juvenile fiction
Another voice was heard clear and clarion-toned amid the howling of the
storm, as the voices of God's ministers should sound at all
times:--"Turn to Him who calmed the tempest on the sea of Galilee. Why
are ye affrighted, oh ye of little faith? Trust to Him all powerful to
save, not your frail bodies only from the perils of the deep, but your
immortal souls from just condemnation. Turn ye, turn ye! why will ye
die? He calls to you; He beseeches you. Trust to Him! trust to Him!"
He who spoke was the good chaplain, Master Hunt, who had been
ceaselessly supporting the sorely-tried ones below with words of comfort
from the book of life, and who had now come on deck to perform his duty
to the fainting crew.
The men, thus encouraged, returned to their duty, and worked away with
the same vigour as before. Even during this fearful time neither
Vaughan nor Gilbert had quitted the pump at which they were labouring.
Though Vaughan, believing that Cicely was lost, cared little for life,
yet he thought of his mother and sister, and felt that it was his duty
at all events to labour for their sakes.
"Don't give way brother," cried Gilbert, "our mother has often said that
God watches over us, and if it is His good will He can preserve us even
now. The carpenter has just stopped another leak, and I heard him say
that he hoped the rest might be got at. We may be thankful that we have
strength to work."
"Spell, oh!" was soon after this cried, and a fresh party hurrying from
the cabins and from the more sheltered spots where they had thrown
themselves down to rest, came to relieve those who had been working for
the last hour. Thus two days went by, but the storm abated not; no land
was in sight; few indeed on board knew whither they were driving; all
they could do was to labour on, and then to lie down in order to gain
fresh strength for renewed labours. Sometimes the wind came from the
north; then shifted to the north-east, often in an instant veering two
or three points, and almost half round the compass. The brave admiral
did his best to steer west by south, but that was no easy matter. In
spite of all on board, as the water was still increasing, he gave orders
to lighten the ship by throwing overboard numerous casks of beer, oil,
cider and wine, which to those who loved their liquor was sadly trying;
but just then life to them was dearer than aught else. The hold being
filled, scarcely any fresh water or beer could be got at, nor could a
fire be lighted in the cook-room to dress their meat. Thus, thirsty and
famished, the crew had to toil from day to day, while such refreshment
as sleep could have afforded was well-nigh denied them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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