The ship's keel was lifted high at one moment only to dip low the next,
so that the waves broke over the deck; bundles and chests were thrown
about, and a salt stream struck the travellers' faces. The rigging
broke away from the masts, and fluttered loosely in the air out into
the dark sea which heaved endlessly in mountains of foam, and
threatened to engulf the groaning ship. The people were mad with
terror and anguish, and, reeling and staggering, sought refuge in every
corner in order to avoid the falling beams and splinters. Joseph and
Mary looked for Jesus, and found him quietly asleep on a bench. The
storm thundered over his head, the masts cracked, but he slept
peacefully. Mary bent over him, and climbed on to the bench so that
they might not be hurled apart. She would let him sleep on, what could
a mother's love do more? But Joseph thought it time to be prepared,
and so they woke him. He stood on the deck and looked out into the
wild confusion. He saw the moon fly from one wall of mist to the
other, he saw dark monsters shoot up from the roaring abyss, and throw
themselves on the ship with a crashing noise, and turn it on its side
so that the masts almost touched the surface of the water, while birds
of prey hovered above. The ship heaved from its inmost recesses, and
cracked from end to end as if it would burst. Jesus, pale-faced, his
eyes sparkling with delight, held on to the railing. Joseph and Mary
tried to protect him. He thrust them back, and without ceasing to gaze
at the awful splendour, said: "Let me alone! Don't you see that I'm
with my Father?"

It is written of him that he is the only man who had no father on
earth, and so he sought and found Him in heaven.

Others who saw the youth that night became almost calm in spite of
their terror. If he is not afraid for his young life, is ours so much