or losing of their way; because, said they, Father Francis was our pilot,
and his presence freed us even from the shadow of any fear. When the
ship's company assured them, that the Father had been always with
themselves, those of the chalop, who had beheld him constantly steering
it, could not believe what had been told them. After some little dispute
on the matter of fact, both sides concluded, that the saint had been at
the same time in two places; and this evident miracle made such an
impression on the minus of the two Saracen slaves who had been in the
chalop, that they abjured their Mahometanism. The impatience of these
fifteen men to behold their miraculous steersman, who had so happily
brought them to the ship, and who vanished from their eyes at the same
moment when they joined her, obliged Xavier to come out and shew himself.
They would have saluted him as their protector, by prostrating themselves
before him, but he would not suffer it: declaring to them, that it was
the hand of the Lord, and not his, which had delivered them from
shipwreck. At the same time, he rendered public thanks to God for so
eminent a favour, and ordered the pilot to pursue his voyage, assuring
him that he should have a good wind immediately. The pilot's experience
of the sea did not promise him this sudden change; but this late
deliverance of the chalop quickened his belief in the Father's words; and
it was not long before he understood, that He, who commands the winds and
seas, had authorised the holy man to make that prediction.

The sails were scarcely spread, when a north wind arising, the air
cleared up, and the sea was immediately calmed. So that in thirteen days
sailing, they arrived at the port of Sancian, where the Portuguese
merchants of the ship had traffic. As the season of sailing in those seas
was already almost past, there were remaining but two ships of the Indies
in port, one of which belonged to James de Pereyra. The ship of Edward de
Gama not being in condition to go on directly for Malacca without
stopping by the way, and having need of refreshment at Sian, the saint
went into the ship of his friend Pereyra. It was wonderful, that at the
same moment when he passed into that vessel, the wind, which for the
space of fifteen days had blown at north, which was full in their faces
who were going for the Indies, came about on the sudden; so that the day
following, which was the last of the year 1551, they set sail again.