A sail appeared , and for a time a frenzy of joy prevailed , to be turned to bitterest disappointment when it passed by , too far away to see the signals waved to them or hear the frantic cries for help that rang across the sea . Emil 's heart sank then , for the captain seemed dying , and the women could not hold out much longer . He kept up till night came ; then in the darkness , broken only by the feeble murmuring of the sick man , the whispered prayers of the poor wife , the ceaseless swash of waves , Emil hid his face , and had an hour of silent agony that aged him more than years of happy life could have done . It was not the physical hardship that daunted him , though want and weakness tortured him ; it was his dreadful powerlessness to conquer the cruel fate that seemed hanging over them . The men he cared little for , since these perils were but a part of the life they chose ; but the master he loved , the good woman who had been so kind to him , the sweet girl whose winsome presence had made the long voyage so pleasant for them all -- if he could only save these dear and innocent creatures from a cruel death , he felt that he could willingly give his life for them . As he sat there with his head in his hands , bowed down by the first great trial of his young life , the starless sky overhead , the restless sea beneath , and all around him suffering , for which he had no help , a soft sound broke the silence , and he listened like one in a dream . It was Mary singing to her mother , who lay sobbing in her arms , spent with this long anguish . A very faint and broken voice it was , for the poor girl 's lips were parched with thirst ; but the loving heart turned instinctively to the great Helper in this hour of despair , and He heard her feeble cry . It was a sweet old hymn often sung at Plumfield ; and as he listened , all the happy past came back so clearly that Emil forgot the bitter present , and was at home again . His talk on the housetop with Aunt Jo seemed but yesterday , and , with a pang of self-reproach , he thought : ` The scarlet strand ! I must remember it , and do my duty to the end . Steer straight , old boy ; and if you ca n't come into port , go down with all sail set . ' Then , as the soft voice crooned on to lull the weary woman to a fitful sleep , Emil for a little while forgot his burden in a dream of Plumfield . He saw them all , heard the familiar voices , felt the grip of welcoming hands , and seemed to say to himself : ` Well , they shall not be ashamed of me if I never see them any more . ' A sudden shout startled him from that brief rest , and a drop on his forehead told him that the blessed rain had come at last , bringing salvation with it ; for thirst is harder to bear than hunger , heat , or cold . Welcomed by cries of joy , all lifted up their parched lips , held out their hands , and spread their garments to catch the great drops that soon came pouring down to cool the sick man 's fever , quench the agony of thirst , and bring refreshment to every weary body in the boat . All night it fell , all night the castaways revelled in the saving shower , and took heart again , like dying plants revived by heaven 's dew . The clouds broke away at dawn , and Emil sprung up , wonderfully braced and cheered by those hours of silent gratitude for this answer to their cry for help . But this was not all ; as his eye swept the horizon , clear against the rosy sky shone the white sails of a ship , so near that they could see the pennon at her mast-head and black figures moving on the deck . One cry broke from all those eager throats , and rang across the sea , as every man waved hat or handkerchief and the women stretched imploring hands towards this great white angel of deliverance coming down upon them as if the fresh wind filled every sail to help her on .
No disappointment now ; answering signals assured them of help ; and in the rapture of that moment the happy women fell on XXXXX 's neck , giving him his reward in tears and blessings as their grateful hearts overflowed .
Emil Mary Plumfield castaways hours mast-head night pennon powerlessness years