"I have never been so anxious before in my life.

Thank God the night is drawing to a close.

Perhaps, when day breaks----" His last words contained a prayer and a hope.

Even as he spoke the ship seemed to lift herself bodily with an unusual effort for a vessel moving before the wind.
The next instant there was a horrible grinding crash forward.

Each person who did not chance to be holding fast to an upright was thrown violently down.