taught to put trust in the Heavenly Father
to whom he prayed, and he looked up to him now for help and guidance.

When they arrived at the hut they found the whole party of wreckers
there, waiting somewhat impatiently for a huge negro to serve them
their supper.

This negro did duty as cook; they called him Black Joe. They took
little notice of the new-comers, and Eric, going quietly over to his
bunk, sat down on the edge and looked about him. This was his first
opportunity of getting a good look at his strange companions.

By listening to their conversation and studying their countenances he
made out that the majority of them were English, but that there were a
few Frenchmen amongst them. There was only one negro, a stalwart,
bull-necked, bullet-headed fellow, with a good-natured face, who seemed
the butt of the others, and a target for their oaths and jeers, as he
bustled about the fireplace preparing their food.

The whole party appeared to be in excellent humour, the cause thereof
being plainly enough the fact of the _Francis_ having proved so rich a
prize. Each man had been able to secure sufficient plunder to satisfy
him, so there was no necessity for quarrelling over the division. They
each had some precious find to boast of, and they vied with one another
in relating with great gusto their successful efforts after the
wreckage. From what they said, Eric gathered that the _Francis_ did
not break up after striking. Her stout oak frame resisted the fiercest
attempts of the billows to tear it asunder. The storm subsided during
the night, and the men were able in the morning to make their way to
the wreck, and despoil her of whatever took their fancy.

The thousands of valuable books, and the holdful of costly but cumbrous
furniture, they contemptuously left to the mercy of wind and wave. The
great store of gold and silver plate, the casks of finest wines, the
barrels and cases of delicious biscuits, conserves, pickles, and other
dainties, together with the racks of muskets, swords, and other
weapons--these were all very much to their liking. Moreover, the
clothing chests had been ransacked, each man helping himself according
to his fancy. The result was a display of gorgeous uniforms and
elegant apparel that would have been quite imposing had not the faces
and manners of the wearers been so ludicrously out of keeping with
their costumes.

Little did Prince Edward imagine, when ordering liberal addit