ea gathered itself into one great and
mighty wave, a huge wall of foaming waters that rolled onward hissing
and roaring as it would 'whelm the very island beneath it. On it
rushed, swelling ever higher, and so burst in thunder upon the barrier
reef, filling the air with whirling foam. And then--then came the
wind--a screaming, howling, vicious titan that hurled us flat and
pinned me breathless and scarce able to move; howbeit I crawled where
she crouched somewhat sheltered by a rock, and clasping her within my
arm lay there nor dared to stir until the mad fury of the wind abated
somewhat. Then, side by side, on hands and knees, we gained our rocky
fastness, and closing the door, which was screened from the direct
force of the tempest, I barred it with the beam I had made for the
purpose, and stood staring at my companion and she on me, while all the
world about us roared and clamoured loud and louder until it seemed
here was to be an end of all things. And now suddenly came darkness;
and in this darkness her hand found mine and nestled there. Thus we
remained a great while hearkening to the awful booming of this rushing,
mighty wind, a sound indescribable in itself, yet one to shake the very
soul. In a while, the tumult subsiding a little we might distinguish
other sounds, as the rolling of thunder, the rending crash of falling
trees hard by, and the roar of mighty waters. And presently her voice
came to me:

"God pity all poor mariners, Martin!"

"Amen!" says I. And needs must think of Adam and Godby and wonder
where they might be.

"'Tis very dark, shall we not have a light?" she questioned.

"If I can find our lamp," says I, groping about for it.

"Here is a candle!"

"A candle?" says I, "And where should we find a candle?"

"We have three, Martin. I made them with tallow from our goat, though
they are poor things, I fear."

Taking out my tinder-box I very soon had these candles burning, and
though they smoked somewhat, a very excellent light we thought them.
"And now for supper!" says she, beginning to bustle about. "Our meat
is in the larder, Martin." Now this larder was our third and smallest
cave, and going therein I was immediately struck by the coldness of it,
moreover the flame of the candle I bore flickered as in a draught of
air, insomuch that, forgetting the meat, I began searching high and
low, looking for some crack or crevice whence this draught issued, yet
found none. This set me t