God."

"And how'll they make harbor, not knowin' what to sail by?"

"That bit of a craft would never stand half a gale, and if she meets
th' ice she'll crumple up like an eggshell."

"And they'll be havin' some nasty weather, _I_ says. We'll never hear
o' _she_ again or any o' them on board."

"Unless by the mercy o' God."

Such were the remarks of those ashore as the _Princess May_ steamed
down the harbor and out through the narrow channel between the
beetling cliffs, into the broad Atlantic. Dr. Grenfell has confessed
that he was not wholly without misgivings himself, and they seemed
well founded when, at the end of the first five miles, the engineer
reported:

"She's sprung a leak, sir!" and anxiously asked, "Had we better put
back?"

"No! We'll stand on!" answered Grenfell. "Those croakers ashore would
never let us hear the end of it if we turned back. We'll see what's
happened."

An examination discovered a small opening in the bottom. A wooden plug
was shaped and driven into the hole. To Doctor Grenfell's satisfaction
and relief, this was found to heal the leak effectually, and the
_Princess May_ continued on her course.

But this was not to end the difficulties. In those waters dense fogs
settled suddenly and without warning, and now such a fog fell upon
them to shut out all view of land and the surrounding sea.

Nevertheless, the _Princess May_ steamed bravely ahead. To avoid
danger Grenfell was holding her, as he believed, well out to sea, when
suddenly there rose out of the fog a perpendicular towering cliff.
They were almost in the white surf of the waves pounding upon the
rocky base of the cliff before they were aware of their perilous
position.

Every one expected that the little vessel would be driven upon the
rocks and lost, and they realized if that were to happen only a
miracle could save them. Grenfell shouted to the engineer, the engine
was reversed and by skillful maneuvering the _Princess May_
succeeded, by the narrowest margin, in escaping unharmed. To their own
steady nerves, and the intervention of Providence the fearless mariner
and his little crew undoubtedly owed their lives.

Grenfell suspected that the compass was not registering correctly.
Standing out to sea until they were at a safe distance from the
treacherous shore rocks, a careful examination was made. The binnacle
had been left in St. Johns for necessary repairs, and the examination
discovered that iron screws had be