Filled, however, with selfish fear, the sailors secretly let down a boat into the water, meaning to get into it themselves, and leave the others in their difficulty. St. Paul was given the power of divining what passed in their hearts, and he told their scheme to the centurion, who ordered his soldiers to cut the ropes that the boat might fall over into the sea. When day broke, the Apostle begged all on board to eat, and he repeated his promise of safety for all, and taking bread, he "gave thanks to God in the sight of them all," and they also ate and were refreshed. It was now evident that the ship could not be saved, so the wheat with which it was laden was thrown over, in order that it might be lightened, and so run close in to the shore. But as the sailors were endeavouring to get up a little creek, the vessel stuck fast in the ground, and the hinder part was broken to pieces by the stormy waves. {123} The soldiers would have begun putting the prisoners to death, lest they might swim to shore and thus escape, but the centurion prevented them, and ordered those who were able to swim to do so, while the rest he made hold on to the boards and broken spars of the ship. In this way every soul was saved of the two hundred and seventy-six who had been on board the vessel--saved for the sake of Paul, the beloved servant and Apostle of God. The island on which they were cast was called Melita--the Malta of our own day--and no sooner were they landed than a fresh proof of God's providential care over St. Paul was granted. A fire of sticks had been kindled by the people of the island, and as the Apostle assisted the others, gathering together what faggots he could find, a viper came and fastened upon his hand. {124} The ignorant natives observing this, thought it must be some very wicked man pursued by dreadful judgments, although he had escaped the perils of the sea; but when St. Paul shook off the viper, and it was seen that he was wholly uninjured by its poisonous bite, they changed in their feelings, and believed he could be nothing less than a god. It was the Will of Almighty God that still more wonders should be wrought upon that island. The father of Publius, the governor of Malta, was lying dangerously ill, and St. Paul went to visit him as his Master when on earth visited the sick and suffering, and "laid his hands on him," and healed, him. {125} Seeing this marvel wrought by the touch of the Apostle, all the people of the island who were in any way sick or diseased came hastening to St. Paul, and they too received the healing of their infirmities. For three months the shipwrecked company remained in Malta, and when at length they departed in a ship bound for Italy, the people of the island gave them many presents in gratitude and good-will. {126} Chapter VII.