ended upon their exertions. Seeing this, I told them not
to exhaust their strength, as it was only necessary to keep the paddles
going sufficiently to assist me in steering the canoe. I tried to
pierce the gloom ahead, but nothing could be seen but the troubled
waters. It was different to any scene we had yet witnessed, for
hitherto the lake had been calm as glass, unless when occasionally a
ripple played over its surface.

"I say, Andrew, I wonder whether we are ever coming to an end of this?"
exclaimed Leo. "If we go on at this rate, we shall be hundreds of miles
away from Kate and the rest, and they will not know what has become of
us."

"Not quite so far as that, I fancy," said Natty. "We must pray to be
preserved, and hope for the best. I do not think we can do anything but
that just now."

"Right, Natty," I said. "Do our best, and hope for the best. That is a
right principle, and people who act thus are seldom led far wrong.
Storms, in these latitudes, though they are very violent, do not last
for any length of time; and I hope we may soon fall in with some island,
under which we may take shelter."

"Suppose, though, we run against it. What shall we do then?" asked Leo.

"We must jump out and haul the boat up," answered Natty. "The shore is
not dangerous like that of the sea-coast, and we shall have no great
difficulty in saving ourselves, even if we are driven on it."

"We need not talk of such a contingency," I remarked. "I hope we may
keep clear of all dangers till the gale drops, or till daylight
returns."

Though I said this, I could not help feeling very anxious, particularly
at the thought of being driven so far from home, for I knew that Kate
would become alarmed should we not return at the time we proposed.
Still we kept on; but often as I bent my head forward, trying to make
out any object ahead, nothing could I see but the curling waves as
before. I had no idea that the lake was so long, and expected every
minute to find that we were approaching the end of it. Still on and on
we went. Hour after hour passed by, and I calculated that morning must
be approaching. The gale still increased, and as the light canoe flew
over the foaming seas I dreaded every instant that they would break on
board. She behaved beautifully, however, and though occasionally the
top of a wave tumbled over her, we took in no great amount of water. At
length, as I cast my eye towards the east, a faint light