torn asunder, portions of her being thrown high in the air. It was as if she had lifted herself out of her watery bed in one wild leap of joy, at no longer being under the control of human hands, but left to the mad caprice, of the wild elements—fire and water. As a portion of the smoke cleared away the now shipwrecked watchers could see that she has been completely shattered by the terrible explosion, and, that what had been so lately a noble vessel, breasting the waves with majestic calm, was now gone from the face of the waters; no more should she sail away with her sails bellying in the breeze, her flag and pennon floating gaily at her mastheads; no more 19should loving eyes gaze out over the harbor bar with longing anxiety for her coming, bringing loved ones home. No, she had gone, gone forever.

19

The day passed slowly enough to our friends. All through the afternoon they kept in sight of the other boat load of fellow sufferers. As the day advanced, the breeze, which had been blowing all day, was a strong gale by the time night had fallen, with that suddenness, which seems, in a moment, to envelop the sea and earth as with a dark shroud dropped by mysterious hand from heaven.

There is in the tropics no gentle approach of night, no soft shades of twilight, that time when all heaven and earth is hushed in dreamy, restful quiet; that time between the busy, gay and garish day and the dark, gruesome night. The darkness seemed to increase the uneasiness of all on board the little craft as they were afraid the high winds might drive them against some of the large pieces of wreckage which, before nightfall they had seen not far from them; and if such an accident happened to them there would be little chance of their escaping a most horrible death. But their fears from that source were fortunately not realized.

At last morning dawned, but bringing no abatement of the storm; in fact, the southerly gale had increased to almost a hurricane in violence.

All day long the wind and sea raged, the seas breaking over the frail craft time and again. Not a mouthful of food was taken by any of the 20wretched party, as they did not dare to relax their hold on the boat to which they clung in the agony of despair. After hours of this horrible battling with the sea, Mrs. Gray feebly called out, “I can keep my hold no longer. My strength is almost gone. Good-bye my loved ones.”

20

Captain Gray made an effort to reach her but he had been 

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