Some hair-breadth escapes in connection with this disaster are well known. A lady who was desirous of proceeding from Plymouth with her family to Melbourne by the _London_, had made repeated pressing applications to the owner’s agents at Plymouth, and the Captain had been consulted, but, fortunately for the applicant, had declared that his cabins were so full that he could not possibly accommodate her, a result that, at that time, caused her much disappointment. A second-class male passenger was so alarmed at the rough weather which the _London_ encountered on her way down to Plymouth, that immediately on her arrival at that port he came ashore, resigned his passage, and went back to his home, thus unwittingly saving his life. A young man, as the result of some family quarrel, left his home, and took a passage by the _London_. He was advertised for, and importuned to return, his friends being unaware of his whereabouts. Messengers were sent down to Plymouth, and an influential ship’s broker in the town was employed to intercept him should he attempt to sail thence. Fortunately he was detected amongst the passengers of the _London_, and his family communicated with by the broker, the result of which was that a brother of the young man came down to Plymouth, and persuaded the would-be emigrant to forego his voyage. May those who escaped the voyage by the doomed vessel, as well as those who got safe to land from the wreck, feel the solemnity of that life which has thus been so marvellously rescued from a watery grave. [Illustration] CHAPTER XII. THINGS REMEMBERED IN THE STORM. A few things were remembered in the storm, to which, when we have called the reader’s attention, our task is ended. THE BIBLE was read in the storm. Doubtless the passengers had with them many books to relieve the tedium of a long voyage, but good as these books might have been, it was not from these that they sought to derive instruction and comfort in the hour of peril. They opened their Bibles, many of them were seen in groups reading it together, or sitting by themselves turning over its pages, as if in search after some passage which had been forgotten, and the meaning of which was specially important then. They read the Bible during the most solemn hour of their existence, and when they knew that their moments were numbered, and whilst in the midst of a scene which its own pages have so magnificently described.