"Come, boys," said I to my four sons, who were with me, "God can save
us if it please Him so to do; but, if this is to be our last hour, let
us bow to His will--we shall at least go down side by side." 

My dear wife could not hide the tears that fell down her cheeks as I
thus spoke to my sons, but she was calm, and knelt down to pray, while
the boys clung round her as if they thought she could help them. 

Just then we heard a cry of "Land! land!" felt a shock, and it was
clear that we had struck on a rock, for we heard a loud cry from one of
the men, "We are lost! Launch the boat; try for your lives!" 

I went at once on deck, and found that all the boats had been let down,
and that the last of the crew had just left the ship.  I cried out for
the men to come back and take us with them, but it was in vain. 

I then thought that our last chance was gone.  Still, as I felt the ship
did not sink, I went to the stern, and found, to my joy, that she was
held up by a piece of rock on each side, and made fast like a wedge.  At