Over and over again I fancied I could hear the shrieks and groans of
people in distress, and I turned for confirmation of my fancies to the
faces of my companions; but all remained unmoved, but bore the quiet
determined look that assured me that, had any unfortunate beings called
for help from the midst of those wild waters, at the risk of those men's
lives it would unhesitatingly have been given. Once for a moment, when a
thin mist swept before the moon and made the light on the waters appear
more like day than night, I clearly saw on the horizon the upper part of
a ship's masts, with some sails bent to their yards, and all heeled over
as if the ship were then about to founder, and I gave a loud
exclamation; but an old sailor put his hand on my shoulder and called in
my ear, "All right, master, all right! We have watched her for a quarter
of an hour trying to make the point of the sands yonder, and she is now
past them and has an open sea. She is as safe as you are now, thank God;
but it was a near shave, and we thought she and all in her were gone."
Often since then in my dreams I have seen that wind-tossed sea, and
heard the roar of the waters and the screams of the storm, and seen
those masts and sails heeling over, and have awoke with a start and
dread fear in my heart.