came on； but there was no repose； and the men were worn out with exposure and fatigue。
The third day of the gale dawned； but the appearances were as alarming as ever： the continual breaking of the seas over the stern had washed away the binnacles； and it was impossible now to be certain of the course the ship had been steered； or the distance which had been run； the leaky state of the vessel proved how much she had already suffered from the violent shocks which she had received； and the certainty was apparent； that if the weather did not abate； she could not possibly withstand the force of the waves much longer。
The countenance of Captain Osborn showed great anxiety： he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders … he might lose a valuable ship； and still more valuable cargo； even if they did not all lose their lives； for they were now approaching where the sea was studded with low coral islands； upon which they might be thrown by the waves and wind； without having the slightest power to prevent it in their present disabled condition。
Ready was standing by him when Captain Osborn said
〃I don't much like this； Ready； we are now running on danger and have no help for it。〃
〃That's true enough；〃 replied Ready： 〃we have no help for it； it is God's will； sir； and His will be done。〃
〃Amen！〃 replied Captain Osborn solemnly； and then he continued； after a pause； 〃There were many captains who envied me when I obtained command of this fine ship； … would they change with me now？〃
〃I should rather think not； Captain Osborn； but you never know what the day may bring forth。 You sailed with this vessel； full of hope … you now； not without reason； feel something approaching to despair； but who knows？ it may please the Almighty to rebuke those angry winds and waves； and to…morrow we may again hope for the best； at all events you have done your duty … no man can do more。〃
〃You are right；〃 replied Captain Osborn； 〃but hold hard； Ready； that sea's aboard of us。〃
Ready had just time to cling with both hands to the belaying…pins when the sea poured over the vessel； with a volume of water which for some time swept them off their legs： they clung on firmly； and at last recovered their feet。
〃She started a timber or two with that blow； I rather think；〃 said Ready。
〃I'm afraid so； the best vessel ever built could not stand such shocks long；〃 replied Captain Osborn； 〃and at present； with our weak crew； I do not see that we can get more sail upon her。〃
All that night the ship flew in darkness before the gale。 At daybreak the wind abated； and the sea went down： the ship was； however； still kept before the wind； for she had suffered too much to venture to put her broadside to the sea。 Preparations were now made for getting up jury…masts； and the worn…out seamen were busily employed； under the direction of Captain Osborn and his two mates； when Mr。 Seagrave and William came upon deck。
William stared about him： he perceived； to his astonishment； that the tall masts； with all their rigging and sails； had disappeared； and that the whole deck was in a state of confusion and disorder。
〃See； my child；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃the wreck and devastation which are here。 See how the pride of man is humbled before the elements of the great Jehovah。〃
〃Ay； Master Willy；〃 said old Ready； 〃look around you； as you well may。 Do you remember the verses in the Bible？ … if not； I remember them well； for I have often read them； and have often felt the truth of them： 'They that go down to the sea in ships； that do business in great waters； these see the works of the Lord； and his wonders in the deep'。〃
〃But； father；〃 said Willy； after a pause； 〃how shall we ever get to Sydney without masts or sails？〃
〃Why； William；〃 replied Ready； 〃we must do what we can： we sailors are never much at a loss； and I dare say before night you will find us under some sort of sail again。 We have lost our great masts； so we must put up jury…masts； as we call them； that is； little ones； and little sails upon them； and； if it pleases God； we shall see Sydney yet。 How is Madam； sir？〃 continued Ready to Mr。 Seagrave。 〃Is she better？〃
〃I fear she is very weak and ill；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； 〃nothing but fine weather will do her any good。 Do you think that it will be fine now？〃
〃Why； sir； to tell you the truth； I fear we shall have more of it yet： I have not given my thoughts to the captain； as I might be mistaken； but still I think so … I've not been fifty years at sea without learning something。 I don't like the gathering of that bank there； Mr。 Seagrave； and I shouldn't wonder if it were to blow again from the very same quarter； and that before dark。〃
〃God's will be done；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； 〃but I am very fearful about my poor wife； who is worn to a shadow。〃
〃I shouldn't think so much about that； sir； as I really never knew of people dying that way； although they suffer much。 William； do you know that we have lost some of our men since you were down below？〃
〃No … I heard the steward say something outside about the foremast。〃
〃We have lost five of our smartest and best men … Wilson was washed overboard； Fennings and Masters struck dead with the lightning； and Jones and Emery crushed by the fall of the foremast。 You are young； Master Willy； but you cannot think too early of your Maker； or call to mind what they say in the burial service； … 'In the midst of life we are in death'。〃
〃Thank you； Ready； for the lesson you have given my son；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃and； William； treasure it up in your memory。〃
〃Yes； William； they are the words of an old man who has seen many and many a one who was full of youth and spirits called away before him； and who is grateful to God that he has been pleased to preserve his life； and allow him to amend his ways。〃
〃I have been thinking；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； after a silence of a minute or two； 〃that a sailor has no right to marry。〃
〃I've always thought so； sir；〃 replied Ready； 〃and I dare say many a poor deserted sailor's wife； when she has listened to the wind and rain in her lonely bed； has thought the same。〃
〃With my permission；〃 continued Mr。 Seagrave； 〃my boys shall never go to sea if there is any other profession to be found for them。〃
〃Well； Mr。 Seagrave； they do say that it's no use baulking a lad if he wishes to go to sea； and that if he is determined； he must go： now I think otherwise … I think a parent has a right to say no； if he pleases； upon that point； for you see； sir； a lad； at the early age at which he goes to sea； does not know his own mind。 Every high…spirited boy wishes to go to sea … it's quite natural； but if the most of them were to speak the truth； it is not that they so much want to go to sea； as that they want to go from school or from home； where they are under the control of their masters or their parents。〃
〃Very true； Ready； they wish to be； as they consider they will be； independent。〃
〃And a pretty mistake they make of it； sir。 Why； there is not a greater slave in the world than a boy who goes to sea； for the first few years after his shipping： for once they are corrected on shore； they are punished ten times at sea； and they never again meet with the love and affection they have left behind them。 It is a hard life； and there have been but few who have not bitterly repented it； and who would not have returned； like the prodigal son； and cast themselves at their fathers' feet； only that they have been ashamed。〃
〃That's the truth； Ready； and it is on that account that I consider that a parent is justified in refusing his consent to his son going to sea； if he can properly provide for him in any other profession。 There never will be any want of sailors； for there always will be plenty of poor lads whose friends can do no better for them； and in that case the seafaring life is a good one to choose； as it requires no other capital for their advancement than activity and courage。〃
Chapter VI
Mr。 Seagrave and William went down below into the cabin； where they found that there was plenty of employment； the steward had brought a basin of very hot pea…soup for the children。 Tommy； who was sitting up in the bed…place with his sister； had snatched it out of Juno's left hand； for she held the baby with the other； and in so doing； had thrown it over Caroline； who was screaming； while Juno； in her hurry to assist Caroline； had slipped down on the deck with the baby； who was also crying with fright； although not hurt。 Unfortunately； Juno had fallen down upon Vixen the terrier； who in return had bitten her in the leg； which had made Juno also cry out； while Mrs。 Seagrave was hanging her head out of her standing bed…place； frightened out of her wits at the accident； but unable to be of any assistance。 Fortunately； Mr。 Seagrave came down just in time to pick up Juno and the baby； and then tried to comfort little Caroline； who after all was not much scalded； as the soup had had time to cool。
〃Massa Tommy is a very naughty boy；〃 cried Juno； rubbing her leg。 Master Tommy thought it better to say nothing … he was duly admonished … the steward cleaned up the mess； and order was at length restored。
In the meantime； they were not idle upon deck； the carpenter was busy fixing a step for one of the spare topmasts instead of a mainmast； and the men were fitting the rigging； the ship unfortunately had sprung a leak； and four hands at the pumps interfered very much with their task。 As Ready had prophesied； before night the gale blew； the sea rose again with the gale； and the leaking of the vessel increased so much； that all other labour was suspended for that at the pump。 For two more days did the storm continue； during which time the crew were worn out with fatigue … they could pump no longer： the ship； as she rolled； proved that she had a great deal of water in her hold … when； melancholy as were their prospects already； a new disaster took place； which was attended with most serious results。 Captain Osborn was on the forecastle giving some orders to the men； when the strap of the block which hoisted up the main…topgallant yard on the stump of the foremast gave way； the yard and sail came down on the deck； and struck him senseless。 As long as Captain Osborn commanded them； the sailor