He proceeded on his way, and at last reached the highest point of the
island. It filled him with dread, as he saw the entire island covered
with trees, and lying there, at his very feet and on every side--the
immeasureable sea. Now he realized that he was all alone and far from
help. "I will come to this point every day and watch. Perhaps a passing
steamer will pick me up and take me home."
The sun began to sink and colored the heavens with gold-rimmed rays of
purple and red. As David stood gazing at the beauties of the sky which
he had never before noticed, he prayed to the Creator to send him help
and guide some ship to this lonely island. Then he descended the rocks
and retraced his steps. Soon he lay down under a clump of trees and fell
fast asleep. When he awoke, he ate a few nuts and some bread.
Each day he wandered to the rocky summit and watched for a ship. But all
in vain, for on the great, wide sea no ship was to be seen. He saw the
necessity of eating sparingly, or his food would not last; so he took
his little knife and made cuts across his bread, showing how much he
could eat daily, and only when he was very hungry. The little piece of
bread had become very hard and he had to soften it in the water from the
spring.
"Oh," cried he, "how many good things I had at my father's table, that I
grumbled about and for which I never thanked God." As he sat thinking
about himself and all his ingratitude, he saw the fishes swimming in the
water.
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