“Truly, my friend, it is,” replied the young man, “and your remark puts me to shame. For many a time, through the microscope and the human frame and the surrounding world, might I have seen this Master-hand everywhere—if my eyes had been open.”
The guide turned on Mark an earnest, inquiring look.
“Friend,” he said, impressively, “if this be so, you are now very specially awakened to the Truth. If you have passed through and seen so much without recognising God in his creatures, you have been brought for the first time to know yourself. Turn now—now—to the Saviour, and you will henceforth see a glory in all things that you never saw before. Turn, my friend—for ‘now is the accepted time.’”
Ravonino spoke with such an earnest look and tone that the youth could not doubt the sincerity of his belief in the Saviour whom he so affectionately held up to his view.
“Ravonino, I believe you are right. God help me to turn!”
“He has helped you already,” said the guide. “That prayer, if true, never yet came from an unrenewed heart.”
As he spoke a shout from those further down the hill-side stopped the conversation and obliged the friends to resume the descent.
“That is the plain, I am told,” said Ravonino, “where they expect to find wild cattle, and where we shall have to encamp, no doubt, till night enables us to hunt.”
“Not a very cheerful time to go sporting,” said Mark.
“They do not count it sport,” remarked his comrade, gravely. “They are short of meat, and hunt for food.”