Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/181

 OR, VULCAN S PEAK. 175 appearance of having been exposed to the air a thousand years. The sand was perfectly clean, and of a bright golden colour, and it was well strewed with shells of the most magnificent colours and size. The odour of their late tenants alone proclaimed the fact of their recent ship wreck. This, however, was an evil that a single month would repair ; and our sailor determined to make another voyage to this bay, which he called Shell Bay, in order to procure some of its treasures. It was true he could not place them before the delighted eyes of Bridget, but he might arrange them in his cabin, and fancy that she was gazing at their beauties. After drinking at the spring, and supping on the rocks above, Mark arranged a mattress, provided for that purpose, in the boat, and went to sleep. Early next morning the Bridget was again under way, but not until her owner had both bathed and broken his fast. Bathe he did every morning throughout the year, and occasionally at night also. A day of exertion usually ended with a bath, as did a night of sweet repose also. In all these respects no one could, be more fortunate. From the first, food had been abundant ; and now he possessed it in superfluity, including the wants of all dependent on him. Of clothes, also, he had an inexhaustible supply, a small portion of the cargo consisting of coarse cotton jackets arid trousers, with which to purchase sandal-wood. To these means, delicious water was now added in inex haustible quantities. The late changes had given to Mark s possession territory sufficient to occupy him months, even in exploring it thoroughly, as it was his purpose to do. God was there, also, as he is everywhere. This our se cluded man found to be a most precious consolation. Again and again, each day, was he now in the practice of communing in spirit, directly with his Creator; not in cold and unmeaning forms and commonplaces, but with such yearning of the soul, and such feelings of love and rever ence, as an active and living faith can alone, by the aid of the Divine Spirit, awaken in the human breast. After crossing Shell Bay, the Bridget continued on for a couple of hours, running south, westerly, through a pas sage of a good width, until it met another channel, at a point which Mark at once recognized as the Forks. When