Among Sharks and Alligators 
A cuHitp had died on the mission, but as it belonged to 
a tribe on another island, the natives decided that its body 
should be taken to its home place for burial. At first the 
missionaries tried to turn them from this purpose, but the 
natives knew their own people better than the missionaries, 
and held to their determination. 
A coffin was made, and the corpse was placed in an open 
whaleboat which the mission supplied for the voyage. A 
crew of eight was selected, and at 3 p. Mm. they set sail. A 
fair wind was blowing, and the sea was moderate. It seemed 
that they would make the voyage safely, and would speedily 
reach their destination. But only two hours had gone by, 
and but nine miles from their starting point they were met 
by a tide rip, and two great waves broke over them, snap- 
ping off their rudder and capsizing their boat. 
Jack and Mick, two of the company of natives, dived 
repeatedly to cut away the mast and sail, for not until 
this was done could they right the boat. At last they suc- 
ceeded in turning their vessel right side up, but only to 
find that they could not clear it of the water. It remained 
full and submerged, with its gunwales under the water. 
And then, clinging to the partly submerged boat, those 
native young men so recently won to Christianity from 
deepest devilism, held a prayer meeting. How often in 
their short experience of Christian living had they met for 
prayer at the mission. And now in their terrible extremity 
their thoughts were upon God, and their cry went up to 
Him for help. Each one of them prayed, and then they 
started to swim for the shore. Five of them started first, but 
as two of them were not strong swimmers and had little 
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