30
ight be rent from the main body and floated away. Often did Archy wish that he had remained on board, and not exposed himself to the fearful danger in which he was placed. At length old Andrew spoke to him.
"Are you happy, boy?" he asked. "But you need not tell me--I know you are not. I am sorry to find you placed in this fearful position, but it was through your own fault--you chose to come against orders. It is bad for us, but then we came because it was our duty."
"I am sure I am very sorry I did come," answered Archy. "But I didn't think this would happen."
"People never know what will happen when they do what is wrong," said Andrew. "Satan tempts them to sin, and then leaves them to take the consequences. Lads, I speak to you all as I speak to this boy. Are you prepared to meet your God?"
"Why do you say that?" said Max, in a husky voice.
"Because I think, before many hours are over our heads, the summons will come," said Andrew, solemnly. "Any moment the ice may break up, and the sea may wash over us, or we may sit here till we die of cold and hunger."
"You are croaking," said Max. "Our captain is not the man to desert us."
"I am speaking the solemn truth," said Andrew. "The captain will do his best to search for us, but the gale will have driven the ship miles away by this time, and before she can get up to us we may be dead. I don't speak thus to frighten you, lads, but because I wish to see your souls saved. You may say that you are such sinners that there is no hope of that. I wish you did know that you are sinners. You heard the captain read to you the other day the account of the thief on the cross. He knew that he was a sinner, but he found the Saviour even at the last moment of his life. He trusted to Jesus, who saved him; and he had the assurance from the lips of that loving One, that he was saved. Jesus will say to you what He said to the thief on the cross, if you will even now turn to Him: `Now is the day of grace, now is the day of salvation.' Oh