y. Then the
sail was hoisted, and the boat sailed away from the land. The wind
had shifted round, somewhat, to the west, and they were able to lay
their course across towards Hippos; but their progress was slow,
and the master bade the crew get out their oars, and aid the sail.

In three hours they neared the land, John pointing out the exact
position of the village; which was plainly enough marked out, by a
great fire blazing on the shore. As they approached it, they could
see several figures and, presently, there came a shout, which John
recognized as that of Isaac.

"Any news?"

"Here we are, Isaac, safe and well."

There was a confused sound, of shouts and cries of pleasure. In a
few minutes, the boat grated on the shallow shore. The moment she
did so, John leaped out over the bow and waded ashore, and was at
once clasped in his mother's arms; while one of the fishermen
carried Mary to the land. She received, from Martha, a full share
of her caresses; for she loved the girl almost as dearly as she did
her son. Then Miriam and the maids embraced and kissed her, while
Isaac folded John in his arms.

"The God of Israel be thanked and praised, my children!" Martha
exclaimed. "He has brought you back to us, as from the dead, for we
never thought to see you again. Some of the fishermen returned, and
told us that they saw your boat, far on the lake, before the storm
burst; and none held out hope that you could have weathered such a
storm."

"Where is father?" John asked.

"He is out on the lake, as are all the fishermen of the village,
searching for you.

"That reminds me, Isaac, set fire to the other piles of wood that
we have prepared.

"If one of the boats returned, with any sure news of you, we were
to light them to call the others back--one fire if the news was
bad, two if it was good--but we hardly even dared to hope that the
second would be required."

A brand from the fire was soon applied to the other piles, and the
three fires shone out across the lake, with the good news. In a
quarter of an hour a boat was seen approaching, and soon came a
shout:

"Is all well?"

"All is well," John shouted, in reply, and soon he was clasped in
his father's arms.

The other boats came in, one by one; the last to arrive towing in
the boat--which had been found, bottom upwards, far up the lake,
its discovery destroying the last hope of its late occupants being
found alive.

As soon as Simon landed, the party