and hurried
manner,--'would you make some mention of it in the Thanksgiving?'

'Of course I will' said Mr. Ashford, with much emotion. 'The danger must
have been great.'

'It was,' said Guy, as if the strong feeling would show itself. 'It was
most merciful. That little boat felt like a toy at the will of the winds
and waves, till one recollected who held the storm in His hand.'

He spoke very simply, as if he could not help it, with his eye fixed
on the clear eastern sky, and with a tone of grave awe and thankfulness
which greatly struck Mr. Ashford, from the complete absence of
self-consciousness, or from any attempt either to magnify or depreciate
his sense of the danger.

'You thought the storm a more dangerous time than your expedition on the
rock?'

'It was not. The fishermen, who were used to such things, did not think
much of it; but I am glad to have been out on such a night, if only for
the magnificent sensation it gives to realize one's own powerlessness
and His might. As for the rock, there was something to do to look to
one's footing, and cling on; no time to think.'

'It was a desperate thing!'

'Not so bad as it looked. One step at a time is all one wants, you know,
and that there always was. But what a fine fellow Ben Robinson is! He
behaved like a regular hero--it was the thorough contempt and love of
danger one reads of. There must be a great deal of good in him, if one
only knew how to get hold of it.'

'Look there!' was Mr. Ashford's answer, as he turned his head at the
church wicket; and, at a short distance behind, Guy saw Ben himself
walking up the path, with his thankful, happy father, a sight that had
not been seen for months, nay, for years.

'Ay,' he said, 'such a night as this, and such a good old man as the
father, could not fail to bring out all the good in a man.'

'Yes,' thought Mr. Ashford, 'such a night, under such a leader! The
sight of so much courage based on that foundation is what may best touch
and save that man.'

After church, Guy walked fast away; Mr. Ashford went home, made a long
breakfast, having the whole story to tell, and was on to the scene
of action again, where he found the master, quite restored, and was
presently joined by Markham. Of Sir Guy, there was no news, except that
Jem Ledbury said he had looked in after church to know how the cabin boy
was going on, and the master, understanding that he had been the leader
in the rescue, was very anxious to tha