hile we on our part are bound to make every
exertion to preserve our lives. As we may not for a considerable time
reach land, I must therefore, in the first place, strongly urge the
people to place themselves on an allowance of food and water. We should
use as little as will suffice to sustain life, that we may the longer be
able to hold out."

I explained what the young Englishman said to Abela; and she and Tofa
spoke to their countrymen, and persuaded them to do as he advised. The
wind had somewhat abated, but as it was still too strong to permit of
our making head against it, we continued to drive on as before. We read
the Bible, and prayed several times during the day, and occasionally
some of the heathen crew came, and, kneeling down near us, listened
while I read.

Abela, although she had not begun her studies till about two years
before this, read very fairly, but she was especially powerful in
prayer, and her whole heart and soul seemed lifted up as she poured
forth her petitions--seldom failing to exclaim, "Lord be merciful to me
a sinner."

The hours passed on, and we felt that an all-powerful hand was
protecting our frail bark from the fury of the seas. When the water
washed into the canoe beneath the platform, it was quickly bailed out
again, and everything was so firmly secured, that in spite of the
tossing and tumbling of the vessel she held as tightly together as at
first.

Another day and another and another passed by, and still the strong wind
prevented us from attempting to return. Many of the heathen crew
appeared to have resigned themselves to their fate, and had it not been
for the influence Abela exerted over them--supported as she was by the
young Englishman and Tofa--I believe that they would quickly have
consumed all the provisions, and have then laid down to die.

We were already feeling the ill effects of the small amount of food we
could venture to eat. The sun too, burst forth, and its burning rays
striking down upon us; we now, in addition to hunger, began to feel the
fearful sufferings of thirst. What must it be should a calm come on!
And although the crew might then use their paddles with effect, their
strength would be gone, and very many days must pass before we could
regain the island from which we had been driven.

Often and often I thought of my poor father. I persuaded myself that he
had certainly remained with Mr Hilton, and that had we arrived in
safety we should