t.

At last Eric woke with a moan. To think was too painful, but the raw
state of his back, ulcerated with the cruelty he had undergone, reminded
him too bitterly of his situation. Roberts did for him all that could
be done, but for a week Eric lay in that dark and foetid place, in the
languishing of absolute despair. Often and often the unbidden tears
flowed from very weakness from his eyes, and in the sickness of his
heart, and the torment of his wounded body, he thought that he should
die.

But youth is very strong, and it wrestled with despair, and agony, and
death, and after a time, Eric could rise from his comfortless hammock.
The news that land was in sight first roused him, and with the help of
Roberts, he was carried on deck, thankful, with childlike gratitude,
that God suffered him to breathe once more the pure air of heaven, and
sit under the canopy of its gold-pervaded blue. The breeze and the
sunlight refreshed him, as they might a broken flower; and, with eyes
up-raised, he poured from his heart a prayer of deep unspeakable
thankfulness to a Father in heaven.

Yes! at last he had remembered his Father's home. There, in the dark
berth, where every move caused irritation, and the unclean atmosphere
brooded over his senses like lead, when his forehead burned, and his
heart melted within him, and he had felt almost inclined to curse his
life, or even to end it by crawling up and committing himself to the
deep cold water which he heard rippling on the vessel's side; then, even
then, in that valley of the shadow of death, a Voice had come to him--a
still small voice--at whose holy and healing utterance Eric had bowed
his head, and had listened to the messages of God, and learned His will;
and now, in humble resignation, in touching penitence, with solemn
self-devotion, he had cast himself at the feet of Jesus, and prayed to
be helped, and guided, and forgiven. One little star of hope rose in
the darkness of his solitude, and its rays grew brighter and brighter,
till they were glorious now. Yes, for Jesus' sake he was washed, he was
cleansed, he was sanctified, he was justified, he would fear no evil,
for God was with him, and underneath were the everlasting arms.

And while he sat there, undisturbed at last, and unmolested by harsh
word or savage blow, recovering health with every breath of the sea
wind, the skipper came up to him, and muttered something half like an
apology.

The sight of him, and