ughts of why God made the world so fair, and
then left so much that was amiss, like a foul stream that makes a
clear pool turbid. And there came into his head a horror of taking the
lives of creatures for his own use--the shell-worm that writhed as he
pulled it from the shell; the bright fish that came up struggling and
gasping from the water, and that fought under his hand--and at last he
made up his mind that he would take no more life, though how he would
live he knew not; and as for the world of men, he became very desirous
to help a little as best he could; and there being at this time a
wreck in the bay, when a boat and all on board were lost, he thought
that he would wish, if he could, to keep a fire lit on dark nights, so
that ships that passed should see that there was a dwelling there, and
so keep farther away from the dangerous rocks.

By this time it had become known in the country where he was--his
figure had been seen several times from the cliffs; and one day there
had come a boat, with some of those that knew him, to the island. He
had no wish to mix again with men; but neither did he desire to avoid
them, if it was God's will that they should come. So he came down
courteously, and spoke with the master of the boat, who asked him very
curiously of his life and all that he did. David told him all; and
when the master asked him why he had thus fled away from the world,
David said simply that he had done so that he might pray to God in
peace. Then the master said that there were many waking hours in the
day, and he knew not what there might be to say prayers about, "for,"
he said, "you have no book to make prayers out of, like the priests,
and you have no store of good-sounding words with which to catch the
ear of God." Then David said that he prayed to God to guard all things
great and small, and to help himself along the steep road to heaven.
Then the master wondered very much, and said that a man must please
himself, and no doubt it was a holy work. Then he asked a little
shamefacedly for David to pray for him, that he might be kept safe
from shipwreck, and have good fortune for fishing, to which David
replied, "Oh, I do that already."

Before the master went away, and he stayed not long, he asked David
how he lived, and offered him food. And David being then in a
strait--for he had lately vowed to take no life, said gladly that he
would have anything they could give him. So the master gave him some
vi