For many days we had been tempest-tossed. Six times had the darkness closed over a wild
and terrific scene, and returning light as often brought but renewed distress, for the raging storm
increased in fury until on the seventh day all hope was lost.
We were driven completely out of our course; no conjecture could be formed as to our
whereabouts. The crew had lost heart, and were utterly exhausted by incessant labour. The riven
masts had gone by the board, leaks had been sprung in every direction, and the water, which rushed
in, gained upon us rapidly.
Instead of reckless oaths, the seamen now uttered frantic cries to God for mercy, mingled
with strange and often ludicrous vows, to be performed should deliverance be granted. Every man on
board alternately commended his soul to his Creator, and strove to bethink himself of some means of
saving his life.
My heart sank as I looked round upon my family in the midst of these horrors. Our four
young sons were overpowered by terror. “Dear children,” said I, “if the Lord will, He can save us
even from this fearful peril; if not, let us calmly yield our lives into His hand, and think of the joy and
blessedness of finding ourselves for ever and ever united in that happy home above. Even death is not
too bitter, when it does not separate those who love one another.”
At these words my weeping wife looked bravely up, and, as the boys clustered round her,
she began to cheer and encourage them with calm and loving words. I rejoiced to see her fortitude,
though my heart was ready to break as I gazed on my dear ones.
We knelt down together, one after another praying with deep earnestness and emotion.
Fritz, in particular, besought help and deliverance for his dear parents and brothers, as though quite
forgetting himself. Our hearts were soothed by the never- failing comfort of child-like confiding
prayer, and the horrors of our situation seemed less overwhelming. “Ah,” thought I, “the Lord will
hear our prayer! He will help us.”
Amid the roar of the thundering waves I suddenly heard the cry of “Land! land!”, while at
the same instant the ship struck with a frightful shock, which threw everyone to the deck, and seemed
to threaten her immediate destruction. Dreadful sounds betokened the breaking up of the ship, and the
roaring waters poured in on all sides.
- Full Book Name – The Swiss Family Robinson
- Author of this Book – Johann David Wyss
- Language – English
- Book Genre – Adventure
- Download Format – PDF
- Size – 1.19 MB
- eBook Pages – 309
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss PDF Book
- For many days we had been tempest-tossed. Six times had the darkness closed over a wild and terrific scene, and returning light as often brought but renewed distress, for the raging storm increased in fury until on the seventh day all hope was lost. We were driven completely out of our course; no conjecture could be formed as to our whereabouts. The crew had lost heart, and were utterly exhausted by incessant labour. The riven masts had gone by the board, leaks had been sprung in every direction, and the water, which rushed in, gained upon us rapidly. Instead of reckless oaths, the seamen now uttered frantic cries to God for mercy, mingled with strange and often ludicrous vows, to be performed should deliverance be granted. Every man on board alternately commended his soul to his Creator, and strove to bethink himself of some means of saving his life. My heart sank as I looked round upon my family in the midst of these horrors. Our four young sons were overpowered by terror. "Dear children," said I, "if the Lord will, He can save us even from this fearful peril; if not, let us calmly yield our lives into His hand, and think of the joy and blessedness of finding ourselves for ever and ever united in that happy home above. Even death is not too bitter, when it does not separate those who love one another." At these words my weeping wife looked bravely up, and, as the boys clustered round her, she began to cheer and encourage them with calm and loving words. I rejoiced to see her fortitude, though my heart was ready to break as I gazed on my dear ones. We knelt down together, one after another praying with deep earnestness and emotion. Fritz, in particular, besought help and deliverance for his dear parents and brothers, as though quite forgetting himself. Our hearts were soothed by the never- failing comfort of child-like confiding prayer, and the horrors of our situation seemed less overwhelming. "Ah," thought I, "the Lord will hear our prayer! He will help us." Amid the roar of the thundering waves I suddenly heard the cry of "Land! land!", while at the same instant the ship struck with a frightful shock, which threw everyone to the deck, and seemed to threaten her immediate destruction. Dreadful sounds betokened the breaking up of the ship, and the roaring waters poured in on all sides.
- Full Book Name – The Swiss Family Robinson
- Author of this Book – Johann David Wyss
- Language – English
- Book Genre – Adventure
- Download Format – PDF
- Size – 1.19 MB
- eBook Pages – 309
