"Only a sea, ma'am," she replied. In my heart I hoped we should not
have another such box on the ear.
We had a horrid night, but the next day it grew quieter, though it
was still rough, and the wind ahead. Soon after, it grew fair, and
the captain promised us that on Monday, before twelve o'clock, we
should see Ireland; and sure enough it was so. I was on deck again
just at twelve; the sun came out of the clouds, and the mate took an
observation.
"That is worth five pounds," said he; "now I know just where we
are."
Then the captain went up on the wheel-box, and we heard the welcome
sound, "Tory Island." We were then greatly rejoiced; this was the
twelfth day of our voyage. At night, for one hour, the wind blew a
gale, and the ship rocked in a very disagreeable manner; but at six
o'clock on Tuesday morning we were on deck, and there was the
beautiful Welsh coast, and Snowdon just taking off his night-cap;
and soon we saw "England, that precious stone set in a silver sea."
Next to the thought of friends whom we had parted from for so long a
time, my mind during the voyage was occupied with the idea of
Columbus. When I looked upon the rude, boundless ocean, and
remembered that when he set out with his little vessel to go to a
land that no one knew any thing of, not even that there was such a
land, he was guided altogether by his faith in its existence; that
he had no sympathy, but only opposition; that he had no charts,
nothing but the compass, that sure but mysterious guide, - the
thought of his sublime courage, of his patient faith, was so present
to my mind, that it seemed as if I was actually sometimes in his
presence.
