ompany the vessel and lend to its
crew what assistance it could. The shot was heard a long distance
on land, but those in the shallop could not hear it, although they
listened attentively and observed the fire and smoke; they continued,
therefore, their search for a more suitable landing. Thereupon the
men on the ship cut the anchor, and hoisted sail, aiming to get as
far out into the sea as possible. At that moment a miracle occurred;
the wind suddenly became favorable, shifting three or four points,
so that they were able to steer the vessel to the only place which
was secure and sheltered, where the shallop's crew had already found
bottom and a place for anchorage. At the same time Captain Francisco
Cadena--a Venetian, and an expert in nautical affairs--without knowing
of the commander's petition, said with great surprise: "This is a
great miracle; for just when we hoisted sail the wind shifted four
points, so that we who thought ourselves lost may now hope to be
saved." This unexpected shift in the wind was also observed by the
chief pilot and other seamen.

The commander, Don Antonio de Ribera, beholding this change and good
fortune, and recognizing God's mercy toward them at the very hour
of ten which he had appointed, twice repeated with extraordinary
tenderness and devotion what he had that morning sought from our
Lord--through the intercession, as they piously believed, of our
blessed Father Ignatius. Soon afterward he related the same incident,
in his stern-cabin, to some Augustinian and Franciscan fathers, with
many tears and great devotion; and those religious fathers, full of
admiration, rendered thanks to the Lord that He had chosen thus to
honor His servant Ignatius, by displaying in that hour of peril his
great holiness and merits. On reaching shelter and casting anchor,
the commander announced to all, publicly, what he had requested from
our Lord through the mediation of our blessed Father Ignatius; at which
those who had been about to cast themselves into the sea, to escape,
if they could, by swimming, and had seen themselves at the point of
death, realizing that they had been saved by such means, offered many
thanks to the Lord and praises to His saint. Both religious and laymen
asked that the image of our blessed Father Ignatius be brought, and
thereupon they all, of every rank and age, began to adore it--falling
on their knees, and kissing it with great devotion, while all the
religious chanted the