permit him. The physician
having one day met him, going hither and thither as his charity called
him, in the middle of his fit, after having felt his pulse, plainly told
him, that in all the hospital, there was not one man in more danger than
himself, and prayed him that he would take some small repose, and but
give himself a breathing time until his fever were on the declension.

"I will punctually obey you," replied the father, "when I have satisfied
one part of my duty which calls upon me; it concerns the salvation or a
soul, and there is no time to be lost on such an occasion." Immediately
he ordered to be carried to his own bed a poor ship-boy, who lay
stretched out on a little straw, with a burning fever upon him, without
speech or knowledge. The youth was no sooner placed upon the saint's bed,
but he came to himself: Xavier made use of the opportunity, and laying
himself by the sick person, who had led a most dissolute life, exhorted
him so strongly all that night to abominate his sins, and to rely on the
mercy of Almighty God, that he saw him die in great contrition, mixed
with saving hope.

After this, the father kept the promise which he had made to the
physician, and took a greater care of his own preservation; insomuch that
his fever abated by degrees, and at length left him of itself; but his
strength was not yet recovered, when the navy put to sea again. The
viceroy, who began to find himself indisposed, would make no longer stay
upon a place so much infected, nor attend the recovery of his people, to
continue his voyage. He desired Xavier to accompany him, and to leave
Paul de Camerino, and Francis Mansilla, to attend the sick in the
hospital; where indeed they both, performed their duty as became them.

Thus having made a six months residence on Mozambique, they embarked once
more on the 15th of March, and in the year 1542. But they went not aboard
the St James, in which they came thither, changing her for a lighter
vessel, which made better sail.

It is here proper to observe, that the father, according to the report of
the passengers who came with him from Portugal to Mozambique, began to
manifest that spirit of prophecy, which he had to the end of his days in
so eminent a degree. For hearing those of the St James commend that ship,
as a vessel of the strongest built, and the best equipped of all the
fleet, he said in express words, that she would prove unfortunate. And in
effect, that ship, which