speaks like a lad of education. He is, however, so much
exhausted, that it would be cruel to ask him questions. Indeed, from a
remark he made, I suspect that he believes himself to be dying. I fear
that he may be right; but, alas! it is without hope that he looks on
death,--only with dark horror and despair. I speak to him of One who
died to save all sinners who look to Him for salvation and repent; but
my words seem to fall unheeded on the young man's car.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

A LAND OF HORRORS.

The young man we picked up two days ago is better. He takes more to me
than to any one else, yet he is reserved even to me. His name is, he
says, Joseph Bent, and the brig was the _Wanderer_. I suspect that he
is one of those castaways who have fled from the restraints of parents,
or pastors and masters, and that he has been reaping the fruits of his
folly, and found them bitter. The brig undoubtedly visited the island
of which we have heard, and her crew were the men who committed those
black deeds of which I have spoken, but do not here again describe.

How soon are they all sent to their dread accounts except this youth!
Great is his astonishment when I speak to him of what was done, and of
the poor natives so barbarously carried away.

"The vengeance of a pure and just God quickly finds out the doers of
such deeds," I remark. "And, Joseph, my friend, where would you now
have been had you not been rescued by the hand of mercy from the jaws of
death?"

"In torment--in torment!" he shrieks out; "in everlasting torments!
Rightly condemned--rightly condemned!"

"But, think you not, that the same loving hand which saved your life
from destruction will preserve your far more precious soul from death
eternal if you will but believe in His power and will to save you? Do
not have any doubts on the subject. The most guilty are entreated to
repent and to come to Jesus--the loving Saviour--the Friend of sinners."

"These are strange words you speak, mate," said the young man sitting up
and looking earnestly at me.

"Not strange, friend," say I. "Thousands and thousands of times have
they been spoken before to the saving of many a perishing soul. Let
them not be spoken to you in vain."

Thus do I continue for some time, till I see tears starting into the
eyes of the young man. The knowledge of a Saviour's love softens his
heart, while his sins still make him afraid.

"I remember to have heard words like those