n to
be seen by day, nor the stars by night. Gilbert and Fenton, with young
Oliver, had after their exertions turned in for a short time: even the
howling of the tempest, the dashing of the waves, and the terrible
condition of the shattered ship did not prevent them from sleeping.
Summoned by the boatswain's hoarse cry, they again hastened on deck to
attend to their duty. The admiral was there, and as they were standing
near him, they saw him gaze up at the main-mast head.

"Gilbert, Gilbert, what can that be?" exclaimed Oliver.

Gilbert looked in the direction his messmate pointed, and there he saw a
small round light, like a faint tremulous star, streaming along and
sparkling brightly, now bursting into a blaze, now resuming its round
form; sometimes running up and down the shrouds, now along the main-yard
to the very end, there remaining for an instant, and then returning as
if about to settle on the mast-head, then again descending once more to
perform the same journey as before. The eyes of all on deck were
directed towards it; some exclaimed that it was the demon of the storm
come to warn them that their minutes were numbered.

"My friends," cried the admiral, "if it were an evil spirit it would not
come to warn men to prepare for death. To my mind it is of the same
nature as the lightning, but harmless. Several times before have I seen
it, and on each occasion the storm has shortly after broken. If sent
for any purpose, it is to encourage us to persevere, and to assure us
that ere long the wind will abate, and we shall gain the mastery over
our ship. To the pumps, my friends, to the pumps! and keep the buckets
moving."

The admiral's brave words restored new life to the well-nigh exhausted
crew; once more the pumps were worked vigorously, and the buckets were
passed rapidly from below. At dawn the admiral himself was seen
ascending the rigging. For a few minutes he remained at the masthead;
then he waved his hat, and shouted, "Land! land!" At that joyful cry
many who had fallen asleep in the cabins or other sheltered parts of the
ship, overcome with fatigue, were aroused, and hurrying on deck, gazed
anxiously towards the shore on which they hoped to find that safety
denied to them by the ocean. Again they went to the pumps, and once
more set to work to bale with buckets, barricoes, and kettles,
endeavouring to keep the ship afloat till a place of safety should be
reached.

The admiral remained st