, talk over
these things, and, with the blessing of God, the new faith shall be made
manifest to you."

"So be it," replied Amine.

Little did the priest imagine that Amine's thoughts were at that moment
upon a dream she had had at New Guinea, in which her mother appeared,
and revealed to her her magic arts, and that Amine was longing to arrive
at Goa that she might practise them.

Every hour the gale increased, and the vessel laboured and leaked. The
Portuguese sailors were frightened, and invoked their saints. Father
Mathias and the other passengers gave themselves up for lost, for the
pumps could not keep the vessel free; and their cheeks blanched as the
waves washed furiously over the vessel: they prayed and trembled.
Father Mathias gave them absolution. Some cried like children, some
tore their hair, some cursed, and cursed the saints they had but the day
before invoked. But Amine stood unmoved; and as she heard them curse,
she smiled in scorn.

"My child," said Father Mathias, checking his tremulous voice, that he
might not appear agitated before one whom he saw so calm and unmoved
amidst the roaring of the elements--"my child, let not this hour of
peril pass away. Before thou art summoned, let me receive thee into the
bosom of our Church--give thee pardon for thy sins, and certainty of
bliss hereafter."

"Good father, Amine is not to be frightened into belief, even if she
feared the storm," replied she; "nor will she credit your power to
forgive her sins merely because she says in fear that which in her calm
reason she might reject. If ever fear could have subjected me, it was
when I was alone upon the raft--that was, indeed a trial of my strength
of mind, the bare recollection of which is, at this moment, more
dreadful than the storm now raging, and the death which may await us.
There is a God on high in whose mercy I trust--in whose love I confide--
to whose will I bow. Let him do his will."

"Die not, my child, in unbelief."

"Father," replied Amine, pointing to the passengers and seamen, who were
on the deck crying and wailing, "these are Christians--these men have
been promised by you, but now, the inheritance of perfect bliss. What
is their faith, that it does not give them strength to die like men?
Why is it that a woman quails not, while they lie grovelling on the
deck?"

"Life is sweet, my child--they leave their wives, their children, and
they dread hereafter. Who is prepared to die?