BEARING BURDENS 281 



prayer soon stay the winds and storms. I am, at 

 this season, reminded often of the green fields at 

 home. Here we see nothing but rocks and snow, 

 and we seem to live in an everlasting winter." 



August at length came, and when it was well 

 advanced, " we are now beginning to look out for 

 the Alert. May God keep the little vessel and 

 bring her safely here with our supplies." 



From Sunday, August 20 to August 27, almost 

 every day " we climbed the rocks and gazed at the 

 horizon anxiously expecting the Alert with our 

 supplies, and news from loved ones. The poor 

 people on the island are in a sad state. Most of 

 them are living on the shell fish which they dig 

 out of the sand. We can do nothing for them ; 

 our stock of provisions is exhausted." But still 

 day after day went by so that they were almost 

 fearing the worst. At last, however, on September 7 

 the joyful news was passed round that a vessel had 

 been sighted in the distance. " We can just make 

 out her masts. God be praised. The Lord is 

 gracious and kind to us ! " is the entry in the diary. 

 Two days later, on September 9, the Alert was 

 safely anchored off the island, and discharging her 

 precious cargo. 



We have seen enough to understand that alto- 

 gether the second sojourn of Mr. Peck at Cumberland 

 Sound was a time of great trial and one that called 

 for a great amount of faith, as far as the things of 



