tone as she could
command, "we can only commend ourselves to the care of our heavenly
Father, and patiently await his will. This they did, and then Isabel
endeavored to calm litttle Amy, who was crying most piteously, but a
shout of joy from Rose, drew her attention once more to the shore. "Here
is Everard, oh here is Everard," cried Rose, clapping her hands and
dancing with joy, and sure enough, there was Everard scrambling down the
cliff. This was Saturday afternoon, and he had come to spend Sunday with
them, but finding they were out he came in search of them, Norris,
fortunately being able to tell him where they had gone.

As the reef was such a short distance from land, and as a boat was
moored on the beach, the children naturally concluded that they were now
safe. It was not so however with Isabel, she knew the dangerous nature
of this shallow water, with innumerable rocks only just beneath the
surface, but still sufficiently covered to hide them from view, which
made it very difficult to take a boat safely through them, even when the
water was smooth, but how much more so, now that a rough swell was
foaming over them. Indeed it was only by taking a zig-zag course, that
any boat could be guided in safety through the labyrinth of rocks. As
Everard was quite unacquainted with the perilous nature of the reef, it
was well that Isabel had taken particular notice of the only passage and
its curious windings, so that they were enabled to direct him how to
steer, or the boat would assuredly have been knocked to pieces, and they
all would inevitably have perished. But fortunately Everard was the
crack oar of the college club, and the owner of the champion medal, and
in spite of all difficulties managed to make his way to the reef.

Isabel had watched the progress of the boat with intense anxiety, her
heart beat fast, for she expected every moment that it would come to
grief, and she experienced an indescribable sensation of apprehension
when it grated on the rock on which they stood.

"Oh, this boat won't hold us all," exclaimed Emily in dismay.

"Don't leave me," entreated little Amy, "please don't."

"No darling, you shall not be left," said Isabel kissing her and then
lifting her into the boat. Quickly as this was done, Rose was already
in; Isabel insisted upon both Emily and Alice going, though the boat was
by this means very heavily laden--Alice would have remained with her,
but Isabel would not allow it, as there