Encouraged by so good an outcome, Ours proceeded with the conversion of those peoples.  They were not stopped by the manifest danger to their lives, nor by the famines or other bodily privations that it was necessary for them to suffer, in lands new, rough, and productive of no relief for their so many hardships and miseries.  However, the divine providence made all these, and as many more as might be very mild, by giving the fathers inward consolation, as well as outward aid on not a few occasions.  One of those occasions, experienced by the same father, Fray Rodrigo, during a trip on the sea, was notable.  At that time, a sudden squall overtaking him, his boat was driven on certain rocks and knocked to pieces, so that those aboard it were drowned, although they knew how to swim well.  Only the said father, by the will of God and the beneficent miracle of a wave, which bore him safe and sound to a rocky islet or reef, escaped.  He remained there until next day, in the fright that one can imagine, but hoping in God our Lord that He would continue his rescue by conveying him to a place of safety.  That happened after twenty-four hours, for an Indian who had seen him from a distance swam out to him and took him upon his shoulders; and he gave thanks to heaven for so great mercy.

More marvelous was the case of father Fray Joan de la Ascension, who, while sailing along the coast of Zambales, was struck by a very violent storm, and the boat in which he was embarked, and all the Chinese who were accompanying him, were lost, without one of them being saved.  The boat keeled over—­as they say—­and was turned completely bottom up.  The father remained in the hull of the boat, but so that he could hold only his arms and head clear of the water, while the rest of his body was under water.  He supported himself in that darkness with his hands tightly clasping a beam.  For the space of three days did he remain thus, while the hull tossed hither and thither.  At the end of that time, as some Indians were passing through that region and saw the wreck, they drew nigh to see whether they could find anything.  They thought that they would surely find some pillage, and therefore began to break open the boat in the part open to view.  Consequently, when they had made a small hole, the pitiful voice of the religious who was crying for aid was heard.  The greedy Indians were frightened, and were about to flee from the terror caused them by so unexpected a petition.  But proceeding, after the encouragement given them by one of their number who was bolder, they discovered the said father, who was already half dead.  Getting him out as quickly as possible, they took care of him and gave him some food, whereupon he recovered, and told them of his accident.  It was told and wondered at, with reason, in Manila and in other places; and all who heard of it attributed it to nothing less than a prodigy never seen.

[Lives of Fathers Alonso de la Anunciacion and Francisco de los Santos, and Brother Bernardo de San Augustin, follow in the succeeding three sections of this chapter, which concludes with a section on the]