barked from Genoa one evening, as the sunset
sent a radiant glow over mountain and valley.

Silvio and Francesco were the youngest of the four children. The two
eldest boys, like their parents, were sad at leaving their youthful
companions, and sat in the stern of the ship and watched the receding
hills till the rosy light faded, and darkness shut out from view their
native land forever.

Silvio was nine years old, and Francesco two years younger. They did not
realize the journey which was before them, nor did they regret at
leaving. They were charmed with the novelty of the scenes around them.
They watched the sailors in their duties about the ship, and listened to
the captain's stern orders. The harbor was gay with the lights of the
many crafts, large and small, which were gliding about over the placid
surface of the gulf. So quiet were the waters that one would never dream
that they could ever be ruffled, or cause the voyager discomfort. As
their ship glided out of the placid Gulf of Genoa into the Mediterranean
Sea all on board were anticipating a quick and prosperous voyage, and a
safe landing on the bright shores of America.

Alas, how uncertain is the future! A terrific storm arose when within a
few days' sail of the American coast. The masts and rudder were carried
away by the wind, and the hulk then drifted at the mercy of the waves.
The captain and several of the crew were washed overboard in the first
encounter with the gale, and the lifeboat, which many of the passengers
took when it was believed the ship was sinking, was swamped, and all in
it lost. A few others remained on the hulk, and stayed on deck in hopes
to signal some passing vessel which had outridden the storm. One by one
these were swept overboard, or died from exposure. Silvio and Francesco
were so small that they were not allowed on deck. When the storm
commenced they were sleeping in the forecastle, in the berth of a kind
old sailor who had given them the use of it. His dog was their sleeping
companion by night and playfellow by day. These three were secured below
during the storm, and were forgotten during the excitement and distress
on board. The parents of the boys were swept overboard on the first
night of the storm, and their brothers were lost in the lifeboat, and
their old sailor friend died from exposure and over-exertion on the
second day of the storm. Thus they were bereft of both kindred and
friend, and, though they were unconscio