ink no man has been more unfortunate than I. I have been
shipwrecked several times--once, only a few weeks ago, at Sunderland.
The whole crew would have been lost then, only that the Sunderland
life-boatmen came out and rescued us. Soon after that, I got a
situation as mate on board the 'Autumn,' but my usual fate overtook me.
We were going to Peterhead, but had only been a day or two at sea, when
a gale came on. The master made every effort to guide the vessel, but
it was of no use, and at last she was dashed among the breakers. Then
we tried to launch the boats, but could not do it, and, as a last
resource, I and one other man clung to the mast for safety. We were in
that situation for four hours."

"Four hours!" exclaimed Grace.

"Yes; and at last, when the tide went out, we found the Naestone rock
uncovered, and the mast hanging over it, so we dropped on the rock. We
had not much bettered our condition, however, for a heavy sea swept
over the mast, and we could not see a vestige of it, though our only
hope of safety depended upon it. I tried to get up a joke with my
mate, but I could see that he was losing all hope. I told him that
perhaps we should be discovered, but he only shook his head in despair.
He talked about being resigned to his fate. 'I feel that I am dying,'
said he. 'If you should be fetched off the rock, go and see my father
and mother, and tell them how I died. Tell my mother that my last
prayer was for her; and may God Almighty bless and comfort her.'
'Cheer up, man,' says I, 'you're not dead yet.' But he was too far
gone to be consoled; and before he had been more than two hours on the
rock, he died."

"Poor fellow!" said Grace, who was weeping tears of sorrow and
sympathy. "Did you not feel worse still after he was gone?"

"Yes, indeed, I felt despairing, for all my hope died when my comrade
died. The wind was still blowing furiously, and the spray kept dashing
over me. I saw the tide getting higher and higher, and coming nearer
and nearer, and wondered how long I had to live. At last the waves
washed the place on which I stood, and I thought my last moments had
come. But just then I saw your boat! I thought I should have gone
frantic with joy; I did not know how to contain my feelings. Oh! Mr.
Darling, God bless you and your family for your goodness to a poor
shipwrecked sailor. May He reward you, for I am sure I never can."

The man broke down and could say no more, whi