“So I should, sir, a few weeks ago, but Peter there, out of his Bible, showed me what a sinner I was, and how I must love Jesus Christ and obey Him, and I know He would not have left any man to perish, and so, sir, as long as you live—and I hope we shall escape from this rock—I will not leave you.”
“Thank you, Hixon,” said the captain; “I am sure you speak the truth. But what has become of Emery and Bill?”
“They said they would stop and have some food, and then come back and try and get you up to the spring, which is a warmer and pleasanter place than this.”
In a short time the other men appeared, but the captain felt so much pain when they attempted to move him, that he begged them to let him remain where he was.
“I am afraid, sir, they will soon have eaten up all their provisions, and then they will be coming down to get what we have collected,” observed Bill. “Perhaps, if you are among them, you might persuade them to put themselves on an allowance.”
The captain sent a message by Hixon, but the men only laughed at him, and replied that a ship was sure soon to appear, and take them off, though they took no pains to make their situation known. The captain, however, told Hixon and the rest to form a flag-staff out of the spars which had been cast ashore, and to erect it on the highest point with a piece of the cloth which they had found, as a flag. They did so.
Day after day passed by, and though one or the other was constantly on the look-out, no distant sail met their anxious gaze.
Peter was thankful that the captain appeared to be slowly recovering his strength, though still unable to move. By husbanding their provisions, the little party on the shore hoped to support existence for some weeks to come.
When Hixon arrived one day with their usual supply of water, he brought word that the rest of the crew had deserted the spring and were nowhere to be seen. He thought probably that they had gone down to the shore to try and catch fish, or collect mussels, or anything that might have been thrown up. He and his companions were searching about for the same object, that they might eke out the diminishing store of their more nutritive food, and give the captain a larger supply. Peter, when not thus employed, read to the captain, as also to the other men, and Bill and the black were well pleased to listen, as were the captain and Hixon. Indeed, the light of God’s blessed truth shone on the small shipwrecked party, and shed on them its warmth and healing influence. It never occurred to young Peter to pride himself that the light shone from the lamp he carried within him.
The weather had again changed, and instead of a balmy breeze and sunshine, a fierce gale was blowing, and heavy showers came down upon their heads.