John was industrious, thoughtful and, having been brought up in the colony, was calculated to make the wilderness bloom as Virginia had done. His axe awoke the echoes of the forest, and he busied himself building houses, planting fields, and providing for their comforts. All the while the flags were kept flying from the hills, in hopes of attracting some passing ship. Two years glided by, and not a sail had been seen on the ocean. The wreck had disappeared; but John and Blanche were provided with comfortable homes. They had tamed the goats, exterminated the foxes, and their fields waved with corn, wheat and barley. To grind their corn, John, who was something of a genius, invented a mill from two stones. The wild fruits and berries of the island improved under cultivation and yielded a greater abundance. Their floors were covered with rush mats, and the furniture brought from the wreck gave to the rooms a comfortable and homelike air. It was evening, and the sitting-room was lighted by candles made of goat's tallow. John Stevens was reading aloud from a Bible and Blanche sat listening with rapt attention. "Read more," she said when he had finished the page. "What a blessing to know that even in the uttermost parts of the earth God is with us." "Verily, it is a comfort." "Should we die here, He will be with us." "God is everywhere. He will not desert us," John said. "But I hope we will yet be rescued." "I trust so." He closed his book and placed it on the table at his side and buried his face in his hands. She watched his strong emotion with eyes which were moist with sympathy, and, rising, came to his side and placed her hand on his shoulder. "You are stronger than I," she said, "why should you grieve more at our calamity? Surely God is with us." The tears were trickling through his fingers and his frame was convulsed with emotion. She noted his grief and, to encourage him, added: "God is everywhere; he is here; he will guard and watch over us, and, if it be his pleasure that we escape from this island, he will send some ship to our deliverance." "My burden is greater than I can bear." "Remember He said, 'Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.' Trust all to Jesus, and He will give you strength." "You are all alone in the world, Blanche." "Yes." "You have not a relative living." "No, my father was lost." "I wish I had none. It is not for myself that I grieve, but the helpless ones at home." "Helpless--" "My wife and children." Blanche, shocked and amazed, gazed at him in silence. The blood forsook her face, her breast heaved, and her breath came in painful gasps. He had never before in all the two years they had been alone upon the island mentioned his wife and children.