Charley Laurel | Page 6

no avail. Still the water gained on them. The only hope was that the
hurricane might cease, and that a sail might be got under the ship's
bottom. Preparations were made for doing this as soon as it was
practicable, but the wind blew harder and harder. The main-mast had
before been badly sprung, and during one of the fearful lurches the
ill-fated ship made, down it came, crushing the launch, on which
depended the only hope of saving the lives of some of them. Dick
rushed forward, fearing his little charge had suffered, but Charley still

lay unhurt in his basket on the raft. Suddenly there came a lull, and the
hurricane ceased almost as rapidly as it had commenced: the sea,
however, still tumbled and tossed about fiercely on either side, the ship
lying helpless in the midst of the foaming waves. The crew laboured as
gallantly as before, though their stout arms were giving way, and many
knew too well that all hope was nearly gone. Some with the sharpest
eyes were sent to the mast-head, to look out for any ship which might
have approached before the calm came on; but as they cast their
anxious eyes around the horizon, not a sail was to be seen rising out of
the dark tumbling waters.
Dick had gone again to the pumps. "Spell ho!" he cried, for he had
worked till he could work no longer. He had just thrown himself down
by the side of the raft when a fearful cry arose.
"The ship is sinking! the ship is sinking!"
Dick seated himself on the raft, with a spar in his hand which he had
prepared. Lower and lower the gallant ship sank. Many of the crew
were at the pumps; some were still below, some running to the
forecastle, others aft. Dick kept his post. The water rushed in at the
ports--the raft floated--a surge carried it overboard, Dick urging it by a
shove which sent it far away from the ship's side.
The Laurel gave one plunge forward--her stern rose in the air--and
down she glided beneath the tumultuous waters. One fearful shriek
arose of strong men in their agony. Some few attempted to reach the
raft, but they were drawn down in the vortex caused by the sinking ship.
Dick vigorously plied his paddle, and though tumbled and tossed
fearfully about, he got far enough off to escape the danger of being
drawn down with the rest. Had he not had Charley to look after, he
would have shared the fate of his shipmates, he thought; and so he
would, I am sure. Though he was himself frequently under water, and
often almost washed off the little raft, the child, protected in the basket,
remained nearly dry. As Dick gazed back towards where the stout ship
had lately floated, he could see a few struggling forms with arms
outstretched, and hear their last cries for help ere they sank for aye, till
that awful day when the sea shall give up its dead; and in a few minutes

he and little Charley were the only living beings of all the gallant
fellows who had formed the crew of the ill-fated Laurel.
CHAPTER THREE.
DICK'S PRAYER.
Night had come and passed away since the gallant Laurel had sunk.
The sea had much gone down, and Dick, no longer compelled to hold
on for his life, was able to open the basket and give Charley, who was
crying out for his breakfast, some food.
"Where de ship?" inquired Charley, in his imperfect English and little
innocent fashion. "Where we got to? Why not give me hot tea? Why
give me wet biscuit?"
"Don't ask questions, Charley," answered Dick. "If I have a fancy for
taking a cruise on this here raft, you should be content--you know I
have charge of you; and if I didn't think it the best thing to be done, I
wouldn't have brought you here."
"All right," said Charley. "More biscuit, please. Now I sing song to you,
Dick," and the little chap struck up the stave of a ditty which Dick had
taught him, evidently feeling in no way alarmed at the fearful position
in which he was placed.
"I think, Charley, you should say your prayers," said Dick, who had
taught the boy those he had himself learned in his childhood. "Ask God
to take care of you, Charley; for I am sure if He does not no one else
will, either here or anywhere else. He hears your prayers as well as big
people's, so don't be afraid of asking Him for what you want; and just
now I have a notion we want Him to send a ship this way to pick us
up."
Charley turned round, and kneeling