He raised himself a little after, and keeping his eyes fixed on heaven, yet wet with tears, “O Jesus, my Lord and my God,” said he, “I beseech thee, by thy holy passion, to have pity on those poor people, who are coming to us, through the midst of so many dangers.”  He composed himself, after he had uttered this, and continued leaning on the sail-yard, wholly silent for some time, as if he had been sleeping.

Then a little child, who was sitting at the foot of the mast, cried out on the sudden, “A miracle, a miracle, behold the chalop!” All the company gathered together at the cry, and plainly perceived the chalop within musket-shot.  Nothing but shouts and exclamations of joy were heard, while she drew still nearer and nearer to the vessel.  In the meantime, the greatest part fell down at the feet of Father Xavier, and, confessing they were sinners, unworthy the company of a man so holy, asked him pardon for their unbelief.  But the Father, in great confusion for being treated in this manner, escaped out of their hands as soon as possibly he could, and shut himself up within the cabin, in conclusion, the chalop came up with the ship; and it was observed, that though the waves were in great agitation, she came right forward, without the least tossing, and stopped of herself.  It was also taken notice of, that she continued without any motion till the fifteen men which she carried were entered the ship, and that the seamen had fastened her behind the poop.  When they had embraced those men, whom so lately they had given for lost, every one was desirous of knowing their adventures; and were much surprised to understand, that they were come through the midst of the most horrible tempest which was ever seen, without any apprehension either of drowning or losing of their way; because, said they, Father Francis was our pilot, and his presence freed us even from the shadow of any fear.  When the ship’s company assured them, that the Father had been always with themselves, those of the chalop, who had beheld him constantly steering it, could not believe what had been told them.  After some little dispute on the matter of fact, both sides concluded, that the saint had been at the same time in two places; and this evident miracle made such an impression on the minus of the two Saracen slaves who had been in the chalop, that they abjured their Mahometanism.  The impatience of these fifteen men to behold their miraculous steersman, who had so happily brought them to the ship, and who vanished from their eyes at the same moment when they joined her, obliged Xavier to come out and shew himself.  They would have saluted him as their protector, by prostrating themselves before him, but he would not suffer it:  declaring to them, that it was the hand of the Lord, and not his, which had delivered them from shipwreck.  At the same time, he rendered public thanks to God for so eminent a favour, and ordered the pilot to pursue his voyage, assuring him that he should have a good wind immediately.  The pilot’s experience of the sea did not promise him this sudden change; but this late deliverance of the chalop quickened his belief in the Father’s words; and it was not long before he understood, that He, who commands the winds and seas, had authorised the holy man to make that prediction.