But when the violence of his distemper was somewhat abated, the saint forgot himself to think on others.  Sometimes, not being able to sustain his body, and burning with his fever, he visited his dear patients, and attended them as much as his weakness would permit him.  The physician having one day met him, going hither and thither as his charity called him, in the middle of his fit, after having felt his pulse, plainly told him, that in all the hospital, there was not one man in more danger than himself, and prayed him that he would take some small repose, and but give himself a breathing time until his fever were on the declension.

“I will punctually obey you,” replied the father, “when I have satisfied one part of my duty which calls upon me; it concerns the salvation or a soul, and there is no time to be lost on such an occasion.”  Immediately he ordered to be carried to his own bed a poor ship-boy, who lay stretched out on a little straw, with a burning fever upon him, without speech or knowledge.  The youth was no sooner placed upon the saint’s bed, but he came to himself:  Xavier made use of the opportunity, and laying himself by the sick person, who had led a most dissolute life, exhorted him so strongly all that night to abominate his sins, and to rely on the mercy of Almighty God, that he saw him die in great contrition, mixed with saving hope.

After this, the father kept the promise which he had made to the physician, and took a greater care of his own preservation; insomuch that his fever abated by degrees, and at length left him of itself; but his strength was not yet recovered, when the navy put to sea again.  The viceroy, who began to find himself indisposed, would make no longer stay upon a place so much infected, nor attend the recovery of his people, to continue his voyage.  He desired Xavier to accompany him, and to leave Paul de Camerino, and Francis Mansilla, to attend the sick in the hospital; where indeed they both, performed their duty as became them.

Thus having made a six months residence on Mozambique, they embarked once more on the 15th of March, and in the year 1542.  But they went not aboard the St James, in which they came thither, changing her for a lighter vessel, which made better sail.

It is here proper to observe, that the father, according to the report of the passengers who came with him from Portugal to Mozambique, began to manifest that spirit of prophecy, which he had to the end of his days in so eminent a degree.  For hearing those of the St James commend that ship, as a vessel of the strongest built, and the best equipped of all the fleet, he said in express words, that she would prove unfortunate.  And in effect, that ship, which the viceroy left behind him at Mozambique, in the company of some others, pursuing her course afterwards to the Indies, was driven against the rocks, and dashed in pieces towards the island of Salseta.