and this
made me go back with some hope that we had still a faint chance.

As soon as I got down stairs I took my wife by the hand, and said, "Be
of good cheer, we are at least safe for some time, and if the wind
should veer round, we may yet reach the land that lies but a short way
off."

I said this to calm the fears of my wife and sons, and it did so far
more than I had a right to hope.

"Let us now take some food," said my wife. "We are sure to need it, for
this will no doubt be a night to try our strength."

My wife got some food for her boys, which we were glad to see them eat,
poor as it was; but we could not share their meal. Three out of the four
were put to bed in their berths, and soon went to sleep; but Fritz, who
was our first child, would not leave us. He said, like a good son, that
he would try to be of some use, and think what could be done.

"If we could but find some cork," said Fritz to me in a low tone, "we
might make floats. You and I will not need them, for we can swim, but
the rest will want some such means to keep them up."

"A good thought," said I. "Let us try to find what things there are in
the ship that we can thus make use of."

We soon found some casks and ropes, and with these we made a kind of
float for each of the three boys, and then my wife made one for her own
use. This done, we got some knives, string, and such things as we could
make fast to our belts. We did not fail to look for and find a flint and
steel, and the box in which the burnt rags were kept, for these were at
that time in use as the means to strike a light.

Fritz, who was now well-nigh worn out, lay down on his bed and slept
like the rest. As for me and my poor wife, we kept watch, each in fear
lest the next wave should lift the ship off the rock and break it up.

I need not tell you how glad we were when we saw the first gleam of
light. At dawn the wind did not blow so strong, the sky was clear of
clouds, and we saw the sun rise, and with it rose our hopes. I soon had
my wife and sons on deck.

"Where are the men?" said they. "How can we steer the ship?"

"My dear boys," said I, "He who has kept us safe till now will still aid
us. Let all hands set to work, and leave the rest to God."

At these words we all went to work with a will. My wife went to feed the
live stock; Fritz set off in search of arms, and the means to make use
of them; and Ernest made his way to the tool chest. Jack ran to pick up
what