n its fury before they had
left the tea-table; the lightning's flash and the crash and roll of the
thunder followed in quick succession; the stentorian voices of the
officers of the vessel, shouting their orders to the crew, the heavy hasty
tramp of the men's feet, the whistling of the wind through the rigging,
the creaking of the cordage, the booming of the sea, mingling with the
terrific thunder claps and the down-pouring of the rain, combined in an
uproar fit to cause the stoutest heart to quake.

Faces grew pale with fear; the women and children huddled together in
frightened groups; the men looked anxiously at each other, and between the
thunder peals, spoke in low tones of the danger of being driven out to
sea, and asked each other of the captain's skill, on what part of the
coast they were, and whether the vessel were strong enough to outride the
tempest, should it continue long.

"Oh, this is dreadful! I'm afraid we shall all go to the bottom, if it
keeps on much longer," Mrs. Conly was saying to her niece, when there came
a crash as if the very sky were falling; as if it had come down upon them;
a shock that threw some from their seats, while others caught at the
furniture to save themselves; the vessel shivered from stem to stern,
seemed to stand still for an instant, then rushed on again.

"It struck! we're lost!" cried a number of voices, while many women and
children screamed, and some fainted.

"Courage, my friends!" cried Mr. Dinsmore in loud clear tones, that could
be distinctly heard by all, above the storm. "All is not lost that is in
danger; and the 'Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither
his ear heavy that it cannot hear.'"

"Yes, it is time to pray," said an excited, answering voice; "the
lightning has struck and shivered the mast; and look how it has run along
over our heads and down yon mirror; as you may see by the melting of the
glass. It has doubtless continued on to the hold, and set fire to the
cotton stored there," the speaker--a thin, nervous looking man, who was
pushing his way through the throng--added in a whisper close to Mr.
Dinsmore's ear.

"Be quiet, will you!" said the latter sternly; "these helpless women and
children are sufficiently frightened already."

"Yes, yes and I don't want to scare 'em unnecessarily; but we'd better be
prepared for the worst."

Elsie had overheard the whispers and her cheek paled, a look of keen
distress coming into her face as