And if we do, the Chinese with
the holy grace of baptism will go to heaven. If we are all saved, then
they will take back with them to Hongkong a greater treasure than all
the gold of the Goldland to the south. That would be such a fine thing
for yon, Peppo! Do you not remember what Father Somazzo said about the
saving of a soul--that one precious soul was worth more to God than all
the gold and jewels in the world. What a happy boy you will be, if you
save not one but three hundred souls? Oh, if I only understood Chinese
and could help you explain our faith!"

"You can help by offering this awful desire for water to God as a
sacrifice. Father Somazzo used to tell us to offer up many unpleasant
little things as sacrifices to God for the conversion of the heathens
and promised us our reward for so doing."

Willy did as Peppo suggested and his thirst became easier to bear.
Captain Brown who happened to be standing by and overheard this
conversation most heartily approved of the plan. Since the rescue from
the shipwreck he had been a different man. Redfox no longer held him
in his power; drinking and gambling had no attractions for him and he
turned away from "his bad angel" in disgust. His sins and frivolity he
repented most sincerely, and with tears in his eyes, he said to the
boys, "If only you and the rest can be saved I will give my life.--O
Lord, Lord, take my life as atonement for the past," he prayed aloud.

Next day Lihoa's prophecy came true. The heavens clouded over and
there came a frightful thunderstorm. The rain poured down. The
thirsty men caught it by spreading out the sails and soon the empty
casks were filled. Its coming gave relief to dire distress but brought
with it a new misery. The water soaked and rotted the sun-dried wood
of the wreck, which the Chinese had made into small huts, until fever
broke out to add to the suffering caused by scurvy. The coming of the
fever more than anything else caused the Chinese to lose their faith in
the God of the Golden Fish.

"Neither by discord, the sea, nor thirst, concerning which our lying
priest warned us, have we lost a single one of our number, but now
disease rages until our men die like flies," said Lihoa.

From this time on all of the sick were willing to be baptized--not by
the Captain but by the two boys, Willy and Peppo. The Captain became
very ill and Willy nursed him. Redfox was taken with fever, and in his
delirium would trust n