ilst there was life there was
hope, and that the Hand which had been outstretched to preserve us
whilst others had been allowed to perish, was also able to save us to
the uttermost, if such should be the Divine Will. And was it not our
duty to submit to that Will, to endure patiently whatever might be in
store for us? Assuredly it was; and I humbly bowed my head in silent
thanksgiving and prayer--thanksgiving for my preservation so far, and
prayer that I might be given strength and patience to endure whatever
privation or sufferings might come to me in the future.

Whilst constructing the raft we had been too busy to note more than the
bare fact that we were being gradually but perceptibly swept away from
the capsized hull of the unfortunate _Daphne_; but when our work was at
length completed and we had a moment to look around us, our first
glances were directed to windward in search of the wreck She was nowhere
to be seen, and we had no doubt that, whilst we had been so busily
employed, the wreck had gradually settled deeper and deeper into the
water until she had gone down altogether.

Most fortunately--or most providentially I ought rather to say--for us,
the tornado had been as brief in its duration as it had been disastrous
in its effects, otherwise we could never have hoped to survive. In
little more than ten minutes from the capsizing of the sloop the
strength of the hurricane was spent, and the wind dropped to a fresh
working breeze. Of this circumstance the _Black Venus_ promptly availed
herself--her crew having undoubtedly observed the disaster--by bearing
up and standing to the eastward under every inch of canvas she could
spread. Our first impression on witnessing this manoeuvre was that,
animated by some lingering spark of humanity in their breasts, her
people were returning in quest of possible survivors; but this hope was
speedily extinguished by the sight of the brig sweeping to leeward and
passing us at a distance of about half a mile, with her crew busily
engaged in the operation of crowding sail upon their vessel. We stood
up and waved to her as she passed, and I have no doubt whatever that we
_were_ seen; but no notice was taken of us, and she soon swept out of
sight to leeward. I hardly expected any other result, and was
consequently by no means discouraged at this fresh instance of
inhumanity; indeed, had they taken it into their heads to rescue us, it
is probable that our lot among them wo