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Sir Edward Seward's Narrative of His Shipwreck (1832)
Sir Edward Seward's Narrative of His Shipwreck - 1832 Author:Jane Porter Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAP. III. VE saw ourselves at length delivered from the perils of the ocean, and placed in a state of security: we raised our hearts to the fountain of mercy... more », and blessed God in thankfulness. It was, however, some time before we could collect ourselves: we looked back upon the ocean, and the reef, and the rocky islands, from whose horrors we so lately had escaped, with strong emotions still partaking of terror, although now in safety; and this feeling was somewhat increased by the immediate sight of the immense cliffs, which towered over the masthead of the brig, as if ready to fall upon us. But it was not long before our self-possession completely returned: we were in a snug place, and the sea all on this side of the reef, to far beyond us, perfectly smooth: our fears, therefore, gradually dissipated; we felt ourselves under God's protection, and were at ease. " Poor Fidele !" suddenly exclaimed my wife, " it is only now that I remember thee! I will go down into the cabin, and see what has become of my faithful little dog." —" Yes, my Eliza," replied I, " we will go down together; and as we are in a safe place here, where the sea cannot break in upon the vessel, I will get out the dead lights, and let the cheerful day, and fresh air, into the cabin by opening the windows; we shall then see what we are about." The poor dog was overjoyed by the first admission of light, and by our presence: he could not contain himself; to use a homely but expressive phrase, he seemed as if he would jump out of his skin; his caresses were incessant, and he could only be restrained by his mistress taking him on her knee. I soon succeeded in getting all the dead lights out: we then saw the devastation that had taken place below; tables, chairs, swinging lamp, chests, trunks, and many other thi...« less