Page:The Swiss Family Robinson, In Words of One Syllable.djvu/14

6 to do; but, if this is to be our last hour, let us bow to His will—we shall at least all 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 were thrown down upon the deck. 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!" These words went, as it were, through my heart like a knife; but, as I felt that I ought to cheer my sons, I said to them, "Now is the time to show that we are brave; we still have life, the land is near, and we know that God helps those who trust in him. Keep up your hearts, then, while I go and see if there be not some hope yet left for us."

I went at once on deck, and was met by a wave that threw me down, and wet me through to the skin. When I got up, and went to the side of the ship, I found that all the boats had been let down, and that the last of the crew had just left it. I cried out for the men to come back and take us with them, but it was in vain, for the sound of my voice did not reach them through the roar of the waves.

I then thought that our last chance was gone. Still,