r the Divine care. Nothing can be
clearer than that a wise and kind Providence is continually watching
over His creatures when placed in unusual or perilous circumstances. He
occasionally affords them manifestations of His favour, to encourage
them when engaged in good works. This shows the comprehensive eye of
the master of many workmen, who overlooks the labours of his more
industrious servants, and indicates to them his regard for their welfare
and appreciation of their labours."

"But surely," I interposed, "if I had been under the superintendence of
the Providence of which you speak, I should not have been obliged to
abandon so capital a fish, when I had endured such trouble to capture
it, and when its possession was so necessary to our comfort, nay, even
to our existence."

"The very abandonment of so unwieldy a creature," she replied, "is
unanswerable evidence of a Divine interposition in your favour; for had
you persisted in your intention of carrying it to the shore, there is
but little doubt that its weight would have overpowered you, and that
you would have been drowned; and then what would have become of me? A
woman left in this desolate spot to her own resources, must soon be
forced to give up the struggle for existence, from want of physical
strength. Nevertheless, there are numerous instances on record, of
women having surmounted hardships which few men could endure. Supported
by our Heavenly Father, who is so powerful a protector of the weak, and
friend of the helpless, the weakest of our weak sex may triumph over the
most intolerable sufferings. I, however, am not over confident of being
so supported, and therefore, I think it would be but showing a proper
consideration for your fellow exile, to act in every emergency with as
much circumspection and prudence as possible."

I promised that for the future I would run no such risks, and added many
professions of regard for her safety. They had the desired effect; I
pretended to think no more of my disappointment, nevertheless, I found
myself constantly dwelling on the size of my lost fish, and lamenting my
being obliged to abandon him to his more voracious brethren of the deep.
These thoughts so filled my mind, that at night I continued to dream
over again the whole incident, beginning with my patient angling from
the rock, and concluding with my disconsolate swim to shore--and pursued
my scaly antagonist quite as determinedly in my sleep as I ha