Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/97

Rh , and not a few, I trust, with calm resignation, and peace that passeth knowledge, and joy unspeakable, were prepared to meet their God.

“And now the dreaded night came on in darkness visible and terrible convulsions. It was long and dreadful. First came a long slow roll of the ship to and fro, almost from beam’s end to beam’s end, thrice repeated. Then ensued a momentary quiet and onward motion of the ship, and then suddenly the thunder of waves began again, louder and louder, and more powerful and rending, as if every portion of our ship would be torn in fragments and scattered upon the deep. Then gradually the thunderings ceased, as if the elements, wearied and breathless by their efforts, had paused to rest and gain breath for another assault. About five o’clock a more terrible squall struck the ship suddenly,—a perfect tornado. She careened over, and buried her gunwales in the ocean, her wheelhouse covered by the waves that helped the wind to lay her on her side. There she lay for a few moments, stricken powerless, at the mercy of the waves. At this critical moment, when another wave might have finished her, the engine was true to her duty, and round and round thundered her iron wings, when, gradually recovering her upright position, the good ship came up to her course.”

The captain afterwards stated that the water was within six inches of the fires, and that another wave such as they had experienced before must have disabled the machinery, and settled the fate of the ship.

Mr. Carter was one of those who took active part in all the religious services of this exciting period. His son carried through life the impression made by his father’s calmness and faith throughout the peril. He remembers his taking him in his arms, and saying, “We are in great danger. It is very probable that our ship will go down, down, down into the great sea, and 6