On the eighth night of the voyage, the stars looked dim and watery, and a low bank of clouds began to rise to windward of us, just between sea and sky.

The old sailors shook their heads and looked grave, as if they expected an unusual storm.  Suddenly the wind began to blow strongly upon the starboard quarter, stirring up a cross-sea which tossed the great ship like a toy.

Nearly all the passengers had gone below, and the few who remained on deck buttoned their water-proof coats, and held tightly on by any thing they could seize.

Jack Harmon had shut up his cat below, but poor puss escaped somehow, for all at once a shrill cry was heard, and there was Jumbo clinging to a rail, with a great mountain of a wave coming right down upon her.

Several men sprang toward the spot, but Jack was foremost, and he had just reached his little pet when down came the great wave upon them both.

Instantly the whole after-deck was one roaring, foaming waterfall, the flying spray of which blinded one for a moment.  But when it cleared, there stood our brave Jack—­dripping, bruised, and bleeding from a cut on the head.

But his little favorite was safe in his arms, and as he came back with her, such a cheer went up from all who were on deck, as the old ship had not heard for many a day.

“Let’s send round the hat for him,” said one of the passengers.

And the hat was sent around, so successfully that Jack got enough money to give his poor old mother a happy Christmas, and still have something left over for himself and Jumbo, who was his mother’s pet ever after.

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Directions for Reading.—­Should this lesson be read with the same tone of voice as Lessons V. and VI.?

In the first paragraph, do not say pier rin for pier in; dir’ tand for dirt and.

Point out two other places in the lesson where mistakes similar to those just given might occur.

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Language Lesson.—­Syllabify, accent, and mark the sounds of letters in the following words:  cargo, officer, blanket, passengers, instantly, bleeding.

Work her passage means to pay her fare by making herself useful.

Make out an analysis in six parts for this lesson, and use it in telling the story in your own words.

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LESSON VIII.

loi’ter ing, going slowly, lingering.

pro tect’or, one who keeps another from harm.

throng’ing, gathering in large numbers.

wrecked, dashed to pieces.

thatched, covered with straw or twigs.

bronzed, brown, darked-colored.

bleach’ing, whitening.

van’ished, gone out of sight; departed suddenly.