200 ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH SEAS 
“You got Him strong fellow God all right,” replied Jack. 
James was weaker than the others because he was younger, 
and many times they waited for him, and Jack helped both 
the others. Often they thought they must be drowned, and 
said to each other: 
“No matter suppose God want to take us, we all right; 
but suppose He no want to take us now, we get along shore.” 
The moon had nearly set when they came near the shore. 
For eight long hours they were in the water. As they strug- 
gled toward the land, Jack suggested that they avoid the 
rocks and seek some sandy beach to land on, but the others 
said: 
“No, we go any place God He give us along shore, no 
matter rock.” 
At last they were thrown up on the reef among the rocks, 
but were not hurt in the least. 
“God He look out us strong fellow when we come along 
shore; stone he no catch our body.” 
And James added: “When we catch him shore, we pray 
again. We say, Thank you, too. We lie there long time, 
we can’t walk about.” 
But the perils were not yet all past, for close to the nar- 
row track along which they passed lay a great alligator, his 
hideous mouth agape and his teeth glistening cruelly in the 
moonlight. 
Fearfully they approached, keeping close together, when 
the brute gave a swish of its tail and made off rapidly. 
Again and again they obtained strength in prayer, as they 
slowly made their way back through the territory of the 
bushmen who only a short while before had there murdered 
a man. At last they reached the mission and told their 
sorrowful story. 
At once search was made for the missing boat, and the 
five boys left with her, but all in vain, for they were never 
heard of again. 
