All Wednesday, as we have seen, the storm raged with incessant fury. The passengers below heard and felt with bated breath that tremendous sea break over the vessel by which the cutter was stove in and the starboard lifeboat carried away. The passengers in the saloon must have felt the shock in all its terrible might, for it broke against their quarter of the ship; and perhaps it was then, when all expected that they were going down, that Mr. Draper was heard praying, “O God, may those that are not converted be converted now--hundreds of them.” This prayer went up again and again during that stormy day. Again there was a crash overhead, and those below heard to their dismay that the main hatchway had been swept away. There was the rushing of water heard pouring down into the engine room; there was the Captain’s voice heard shouting through the storm, and the responsive cry of the crew. “Prepare to meet your God. Prepare to meet your God!” This was the solemn admonition of the minister throughout the day and night. At twelve o’clock that night there was a prayer-meeting in the saloon, which was attended by all who could be spared from their duties on deck. A marvellous meeting indeed it must have been, in which strong cries and tears went up to Him whose word was pledged that He would not turn away his ear from the voice of prayer; that He would listen to the cry of the afflicted. And did He not listen? Did He not answer? We would humbly hope that the prayers presented were not the offspring of mere natural terror, but the utterances of broken and contrite spirits. On Thursday morning a wondrous calmness had taken possession of all hearts. There were no agonizing shrieks and screams, no delirious efforts to escape from their doom. The prayer-meeting, and the prayers of the last three days had done their work. Something stronger and holier than love of mere natural life had taken possession of many hearts. Their’s was the victory which had overcome death, even their faith. Not even when the Captain entered the saloon, and sadly announced that there was no hope, did their calmness and resignation forsake them. “Let us pray,” Mr. Draper said, and then they quietly prayed by themselves. Shortly afterwards the minister said with great kindliness, “Well, my friends, our Captain tells us there is no hope, but the Great Captain above tells us there is hope, and that we may all get safe to heaven.” Blessed truth! we have no doubt that it went home to the hearts of many. Friends began to take leave of friends, as if preparing for a long journey. Husbands, wives, and children clung to each other as if death itself should never divide them. And, clinging to each other, and, we trust, to Christ, they calmly waited for the sea to swallow them up, amid all the excitement of launching the port cutter. [Illustration: “CONSOLATION IN THE HOUR OF PERIL.”] CHAPTER IX. LAST WORDS.