A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 153: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

150 A QUEER RACE. ‘‘T am now sure that we shall escape. ‘The rainbow was sent to give us new hope.”’ Hardly had she spoken, when, as if to belie her words, the wind, which had lateiy fallen off a little, rose again, and the Diana drifted more rapidly than before. Nearer and nearer she drove toward the fatal rocks, and the din of the waves beating against them, and the roar of the storm, were so great that we could not hear each other speak. It seemed as if nothing on earth could prevent our destruction. Bnt as we drew within a mile of the barrier, the wind lulled once more, and the anchor ceased to drag. Death now literally stared us in the face. When the next gust came we should not have five minutes to live. I went forward to the bows to look at the cable. It was all paid out, and as rigid as a bar of iron. I was watching it intently, and wondering how near it was to the ‘‘ breaking strain,” when Mab joined me. “What do you think of the rainbow now?” I said. “Tt does not appear to have done us much good.” ‘‘T shall not give up hope, Mr. Erle, until the ship is on those rocks and | find myself in the water,” was the undaunted reply; ‘‘and even then—— Good heavens! what is that?” ‘¢ Where?” ‘Beyond the Painted Rocks.” I looked, but saw nothing; and then, remembering how much sharper were the queen’s eyes than mine, I had re- course to my glass. Well might she exclaim and stand - with outstretched arm and blanched face. A great wall _ of water, black and solid, higher than the Painted Rocks, higher than the Diana’s masts, was coming out of the mist and sweeping swiftly toward us. For a moment I was too much taken aback either to think or speak. I was lost in astonishment and dread. But by a strong effort | recovered my presence of mind. — ‘‘ Jt must be a tidal wave,” I said. ‘‘I have often heard of them, but this is the first I ever saw. [If it strikes us while the ship is at anchor we shall go under and never come up again; I am enough of a sailor to know that.” “¢ What will you do, then?” | ‘¢Shp the cable and trust to Providence.” - Gomicbooks,.¢o