He thought of all his transgressions.

To use his own words: "I recalled every mean trick I had ever committed against God and man in my reckless life and I did my utmost to remember the best and most effective prayer that I was taught when a boy." For hours, that seemed weeks to him, he was driven along before the mighty seas.

About three o'clock in the morning the water became more agitated and a booming sound struck Paul's ear.

Coming to an upright position, he peered eagerly to leeward thinking he might be close to Cape Clear.

He saw what seemed to him to be a dark mass of clouds banked up against the morning sky along which ran flashes of white.