And, reader, in the hour that is before thee, as surely as it was before those that went down in the Bay of Biscay, it is only this faith in Christ that can impart courageous strength to thine own spirit, and solid consolation to the mourners who will presently bewail thee gone. If thou hast it, thou wilt go thy journey undismayed, while the heaven, to which thou art gone will shine brightly behind the cloud, and tell those who grieve thine absence most, that they need not sorrow as those who have no hope. [Illustration] CHAPTER XI. THE ESCAPE. Nineteen persons had entered the port cutter. These consisted of the second and third engineers, one fireman, the boatswain’s mate, the quartermaster, the carpenter’s mate, the steward, the boatswain’s boy, five able seamen, and three passengers. They had received their course from the now drowned Captain--N.N.E. to Brest, which was 190 miles distant, and they had compasses on board. Under the direction of King, the men agreed, that whatever might happen they would sit immoveable, except when pulling at the oars. Two worked at each oar, and they ran before the sea. Both Daniell and King deserve the highest praise for their skill in steering the feeble craft over the raging waters, but it was pleasant to find them both modest and seamanlike in all they said about it. “I believe you took charge of the boat, didn’t you, Daniell?” “Well, I pulled an oar sometimes, and sometimes steered. I took no particular charge of the boat, but I gave my opinion and advice now and then.” “But you took a little of the lead?” “Well, I did. Others also gave their opinion.” Among the “others” who gave counsel was John King. “How did you manage to steer?” “Chiefly by the ‘pointers’ to the N.E.” [Illustration: JOHN KING.] It was a fearful struggle for life that the brave seamen now engaged in, as, with parched lips and every nerve strained to its highest pitch of tension, they rose and fell with the green waves still running mountains high. It seemed almost hopeless to attempt to withstand any longer the fury of the sea, which broke over them in angry surges. As we have said, they had but a quart of water on board, and the bottles of spirits. It was a fortunate thing that young Edwards succeeded in getting hold of these and concealing them, for the probability is, that had the seamen given way to drink in their then excited state, raving delirium would have set in, and cutter and crew would soon have been at the bottom. The lad shall tell his own story, and he is worthy of lasting honour and remembrance for his part in it.