d you
have so long left."

"I do not wish to bias my father," said Peter, "and I am very sure that,
seeking direction from God, he will be directed aright."

"It is settled then, my son," said the old sailor, looking up, "I'll
remain with Mr Wilson, and help him. I can say with old Israel, about
whom he was reading to me the other day, when he saw Joseph, `Now let me
die since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.'"

Peter agreed that his father was right in the resolution he had come to.

The first-mate, and several of the crew who had visited old Mr Gray in
his hut, begged that they might be allowed to put up a more comfortable
dwelling for him. Peter thankfully accepted their offer, and several of
the natives, finding what they proposed doing, gave their assistance.
In a short time a neat cottage was erected in the shelter of a cocoanut
grove, with a verandah in front and a garden fenced in on one side.
Peter had also the satisfaction of taking on shore some clothing and a
number of articles which he thought might be of use to his father, as
well as a store of provisions such as were likely to keep in that
climate.

"Peter, you are over-generous to me," said the old man, when the gifts
arrived, "I never did anything for you."

"You must consider them as God's gifts; if He had not bestowed them on
me I could not have offered them to you," answered Peter.

"I see, I see," said the old man; "He orders all for the best, praise
His name."

Peter paid several visits to Mr Wilson, who, with his wife, had now
been nearly a year on the island. He disclaimed any part in the
conversion of the old sailor, that having been brought about by the
instrumentality of the two native catechists who had preceded him. By
that time a large number of the inhabitants of that part of the island
had burned their idols, and become nominal Christians, while a very
considerable portion were communicants, and evidently endeavouring to
walk in the footsteps of the Master they professed to serve.

"There is still, however, a wide field for our labours," observed Mr
Wilson, "for which I trust your father will be spared many years with
me."

Stormy weather, and the necessity of refitting and making certain
repairs which the _Edgar_ required, and for which the sheltered harbour
afforded peculiar facilities, kept her there for upwards of a fortnight;
when parting from his father, Peter proceeded on his voyage to England.

T