ng up
alongside us. "This is only one of the trials and dangers to which
missionaries are exposed," she observed. "We should bear it patiently
and trustfully."

"Trustfully!" How seldom employed, how still less frequently made a
practical use of. That one word described much of her character.

The gale soon reached its height; the sea, lashed into fury, seemed one
mass of foam, and broke over us so frequently that every instant I
expected the boat to be swamped. Two men baling could scarcely keep her
free. Our only chance was to run before it, for the strength of the
crew no longer availed to keep our small craft's head to wind. The
danger of getting her round was very great; should a sea strike her on
the beam, it would have rolled her over helplessly. I gave exact orders
what was to be done--one man to hoist the foresail, two to pull round
with the starboard oars, the rest to spring aft so as to throw the
greatest weight into the stern of the boat, thus allowing her head to
come round more rapidly. I waited till a heavy sea had rolled past, and
then before we had sunk to the hollow I gave the word. For the first
time Mr Bent and his daughter turned pale. The boat flew round, and
seemed to be climbing up the ascent towards the crest which had just
hissed by, and then on we darted with the small patch of sail we could
show to the gale.

On, on we went, the huge seas rolling up astern of us, and appearing as
if they would come down and overwhelm us. During all my nautical career
I had never been in an open boat exposed to such a gale, though
frequently in a big ship, and even then I have felt the helplessness,
the nothingness of man. Still more sensibly now was it brought before
me--"He commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the
waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down to the depths;
their soul is melted because of trouble. Then they cry unto the Lord in
their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses." The
missionary was repeating those lines, which come so home to the
Christian sailor's heart; and at his exhortation, we offered up our
united supplications for protection in our sore distress. To the few
solemn words which he spoke, the seamen listened earnestly. They knew
that at any moment they might be summoned away. I felt an unusual
calmness. I may say that I had no fear: I knew the danger, and yet I
believed that we should be preserved.

On, on