Page:Faoistin naoṁ-Ṗadraig (1906).djvu/86

70 but was, perhaps, distant 200 miles. And I had never been there, nor did I know any person there. And so I fled soon after and left the man with whom I had been for six years, and I came by the power of God who was directing my path unto good, and I was afraid of nothing until I reached that ship.

18. And on the very day I arrived, the ship left its place, and I said that I had wherewithal to sail with them. But this displeased the ship's ruler, who replied sharply, with indignation: "By no means seek to go with us." And when I heard this I parted from them to go to the hut where I was staying, and on the journey I began to pray, and before I had finished my prayer I heard one of them calling aloud after me: "Come quickly, for these men are calling thee;" and immediately I returned to them. And they began to say to me: "Come, for we receive thee in good faith, enter into friendship with us in whatever way thou choosest." And on that day I refused to suck their breasts through fear of God, but, nevertheless, I hoped that some of them would come to the faith of Jesus Christ, for they were heathens, and for this reason I stayed with them, and immediately we set sail.

19. And after three days we came to land, and we journeyed for twenty-eight days through a desert, and food failed them and hunger oppressed them. And on a certain day the ship's ruler began to say to me: "What sayest thou, O Christian, thy God is great and omnipotent? Why, therefore, canst thou not pray for us, for we are in danger of starving—it will go hard with us ever again to see any person." Then I said to them, plainly: "Be converted in faith and with all your heart to the Lord my God, to whom nothing is impossible, that He may this day send you food on your way until ye be satisfied, for He hath abundance everywhere." And with the