no mischief; and thus the matter was brought to an end."

"And did the distant ship come to their relief?”

"She did, boys; and proved to be the Ternate, one of the company's cruisers, despatched by Lord Amherst, to bring them away from the island. Had not the

pirates been attacked, and driven away, they might, after all, have prevented Captain Maxwell and his party from holding communication with the ship; for, owing to the wind and current, the Ternate could not approach the island nearer than within about three or four leagues: however, by the assistance of the boats of the ship, and their own, making use also of the raft constructed by them, every man of the party got safe on board the Ternate."

"Then, they did get safe, at last, in spite of the cruel Malays."

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They did, boys; and it puts in a clear light the value of order and discipline. If you think of what took place on the raft of La Meduse, about which I told you, where, mostly for the want of order and discipline, only nine persons were saved alive, out of a hundred and fifty, you will be struck with the difference. Good conduct, boys, all over the world, is the best sailing course. But the old sea Captain must now put his figure-head in another shape. Helm's-a-lea! about ship! We must again part company. Whether the voyage of life be fair or stormy, keep up your spirits, boys; and, whenever you are hailed with the question, Where are you bound to?' let your reply always be, To a better country!'"

The first, middle, morning, starboard, and larboard watchesThe missionaries-Meeting at St. Kitt's-The Maria mail boat-Antigua in sight-The ship on her beam ends-Distress of the captain-Negro and mate borne away in the boat by the waves-The ship broken up, and part of the crew drownedA missionary's wife saved-The drowning dog-A signal hoisted-The cook and steward washed away-Two missionaries drowned in swimming to the shore-Death of the last missionary, and the captain-Mrs. Jones rescued from the wreck.

"You have got your shaggy jacket on, as usual, and your spyglass in your hand. Do you see the blue in

the sky yonder? There will be no more rain now, will there, Captain?"

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May be not, boys; the mizzle's over, and there won't be much the matter, I take it, on this side the middle watch, any how."

"What is the middle watch, Captain? what is the middle watch?"

"I speak, boys, as though I was walking the deck among the blue jackets. Only to think, there should be so many people in the world who do not know what the middle watch means! Listen, boys, and I will make you a little wiser than you seem to be at present. The word 'watch,' on board ship, when applied to time, means that space of time wherein one part of the crew remains on deck to do duty. The watch is divided into three parts: the first watch, the middle watch, and the morning watch. It is applied, also, to the men themselves, who watch during each interval."

"Thank you: we know now about the watches; but we do not know what time they begin."

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I thought as much; nor what time they end, I dare say. Well, the first watch is from eight at night till twelve; the middle watch is from twelve till four in the morning; and the morning watch is from four till eight."

"Then you think it will not rain between now and twelve o'clock at night."

"You are right; but if it pleases God to send it, let us be thankful. We are never more out of our reckoning, than when we quarrel with what God gives us.

Oh may our hearts, obedient still,
Bow down to His almighty will.

There are two other watches; the first and second dogwatches they are from four to six, and from six till eight o'clock. These shift the watches, so that those that have the first and morning watch, will next have the middle watch; and those who had the middle, will have the first and morning. The hands that form the watch are divided into two guards, the starboard and the larboard, and sometimes into more. When the boatswain's mates call the hands on deck to relieve the watches, they sing out, 'Starboard watch, ahoay!' Larboard watch, ahoay!'"

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Well, now, what will you please to tell us about to-day, Captain?"

"I said that, perhaps, I might tell you of the Maria mail-boat; and, as every tar should be true to his word, the old sea Captain will now go a-head in his narration. Much may be learned from the account I shall give you; and when you hear that weak and helpless woman has grappled with hardships, under which stout-hearted sailors have sunk exhausted, you will see the truth of the words, The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,' Eccles. ix. 11.

"On the 2nd of February, 1826, a party of missionaries, with their wives and children, left Antigua, in the West Indies, to attend a religious meeting at St. Christopher's, or, as it is generally called, St. Kitt's; and, on Monday, the 27th, they embarked in the Maria mailboat on their return."

"What do you mean by a mail-boat?"

"A mail-boat is a boat, or small vessel, that carries the mail, that is, the letters. No sooner did they get aboard, than they retired to the berths. A bed for the children and nurses was spread on the cabin floor. Through the night, the wind blew hard, and the sea was rough; and when morning came, there was no going on deck, for the waves washed over the vessel. The pitching and rolling of the ship was enough to terrify those who were not used to the sea; the children grew sick, poor things! and the women thought the vessel would upset; and glad enough were they to hear a sailor sing out, Land! Antigua in sight!'"

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Ay, they would be sure to pluck up their spirits then.'

"A little boy, a son of one of the missionaries, opened his hymn book, and read two or three verses from it, which were sung by the young people. Some of the children were younger than the boy, and they listened to him with attention, while he told them how God preserved Jonah."

"Poor little fellow! he seemed to bear it all as well as any of them."

"You may suppose that a sudden alarm was spread among them, when the steward came down hastily, and snatched up a lantern, giving no reply to those who asked him what was the matter. The women sprang out of their berths to their children, the ship fell right on her beam-ends, and over her came the sea, washing down into the cabin."