John had enough of the sturdy Puritan in his nature to deeply feel the duty incumbent on him, and enough of the cavalier to be a gentleman, unselfish and kind.
Throughout the long night he held the half inanimate form of Blanche in his arms.

The storm abated and the tide running out left the vessel imbedded in the sands.

John watched for the coming morn as a condemned criminal looks for a pardon.

He knew no cast nor west in the darkness; but anon the sea and sky in a certain place became brighter and brighter.

The clouds rolled away, and he saw the bright morning star fade, as the sable cloak of night was rent to admit the new born day.
Blanche sat up and, gazed over the scene as the flashing rays of sunlight gleamed over the sea and shore.
"Are we all ?" she asked.
"Yes." "Was no one saved ?" "None but ourselves." "And the ship ?" "Is a hopeless wreck on the sands," he answered.
As they rose to gaze upon their surroundings, John Stevens thought with regret that if the crew and passengers had remained below hatches, they would have been saved; but he and Blanche were all who remained, and he turned his gaze to the wild shores hoping to discover some sign of civilization.