Willis the Pilot | Page 7

air; like those massive stone gates we have seen in some
of the old castles in Germany, that resist the most powerful effort to
push them open, but which a spring of the simplest construction causes
to move gently on their formidable hinges.
Willis was silent; but no openly-expressed submission could have been
more eloquent than this mute acquiescence.
In the meantime the tempest raged with increased fury, the winds
howled, and the water splashed; it appeared at each shock as if the
elements had reached the utmost limit of the terrific; that the sea, as the
poet says, had lashed itself into exhaustion! But, anon, there came
another outburst more terrible still, to declare that, in his anger as in his
blessings, the All-Powerful has no other limit than the infinite.
"If it is not in the power of human beings to aid the crew of the
Nelson," said Mrs. Becker kneeling, "there are other means more
efficacious which we are guilty in not having sought before."
Every one followed this example, and it was a touching scene to behold
the rough sailor yield submissively to the gentle violence of the child's
hand, and bend his bronzed and swarthy visage humbly beside her
cherub head.
CHAPTER II.
TO WHAT EXTENT WILLIS THE PILOT HAD IDEAS ON
CERTAIN SUBJECTS--THE KNIGHTS OF THE OCEAN.

The storm continued to rage without intermission for three entire days.
During this interval, not only was it impossible to send the canoe or
pinnace to sea, but even to venture a step beyond the threshold, so
completely had the tempest broken up the burning soil, the thirst of
which the great Disposer of all things had proportioned to the deluges
that were destined to assuage it.
All had at length yielded to bodily fatigue and mental anxiety, for the
seeming eternity of these three days and three nights had been passed in
prayer, and in the most fearful apprehensions as to the fate of the
Nelson and her crew.
Nothing in the horizon as yet indicated that the thunders were tired of
roaring, the clouds of rending themselves asunder, the winds of
howling, or the waves of frantically beating on the cliffs.
Towards evening the ladies had retired to the sick-room with a view of
seeking some repose. Becker, Willis, and the young men bivouacked in
the hall, where some mattresses and bear-skins had been laid down.
Here it was arranged that, for the common safety, each during the night
should watch in turn. But about two in the morning, Ernest had no
sooner relieved Fritz than, fatigue overcoming his sense of duty, the
poor fellow fell comfortably asleep, and he was soon perfectly
unconscious of all that was passing around him.
Becker awoke first--it was broad daylight. "Where is Willis?" he cried,
on getting up.
"Holloa!" exclaimed Fritz, running towards the magazine, "the canoe
has disappeared!"
In an instant all were on their feet.
"Some one of you has fallen asleep then," said Becker to his children;
"for when the pilot watched I watched with him, and never lost sight of
him for a moment."
"I am the culprit," said Ernest; "and if any mischief arises out of this

imprudence, I shall never forgive myself. But who could have dreamt
of any one being foolhardy enough to attempt the rescue of a ship in a
nutshell that scarcely holds two persons?"
"I pray Heaven that your sleepy-headedness may not result in the loss
of human life! You see, my son, that there is no amount of duty, be it
ever so trifling in importance, that can be neglected with impunity. It is
the concurrent devotion of each, and the sacrifices of one for another,
that constitutes and secures the mutual security. Society on a small, as
on a large scale, is a chain of which each individual is a link, and when
one fails the whole is broken."
"I will go after him," said Ernest.
"Fritz and I will go with you," added Frank.
"No," said Ernest; "I alone am guilty, and I wish alone to remedy my
fault--that is, as far as possible."
"I could not hide the canoe," observed Fritz, "but I hid the oars, and I
find them in their place."
"That, perhaps, will have prevented him embarking," remarked one of
the boys.
"A man like Willis," replied Becker, "is not prevented carrying out his
intentions by such obstacles; he will have taken the first thing that came
to hand; but let us go."
"What, father, am I not then to go alone, and so bear the penalty of my
own fault?"
"No, Ernest, that would be to inflict two evils upon us instead of one; it
is sufficient that you have shown your willingness to do so. Besides,
three will not be over