THE BOAT THAT REFUSED TO BE BURNT PART 3

"Where are you going,"he said.

"We go catch 'im Portal."

"But the English government informed the Seventh day Adventist's church offices in Australia that the Portal was destroyed by fire to prevent capture by the Japanese," Pastor Ferris said.

With a broad smile and a chuckle the islanders responded, "Portal 'im 'e boat belong to God 'im 'e no burn. Portal 'e stop we get."

A few days later, the Portal was secured to moorings along the beach. Without the mast, the rigging and awning, the boat looked shipwrecked but careful inspection of the outside of the boat found it's hull seaworthy . The wooden vessel had been laying in the quiet waters of a mangrove creek for almost three years yet their was no sign of destruction by termites or worms. Under ordinary circumstances this boat should have been repaired at least once a year.

Climbing up to the deck of the schooner, Pastor Ferris mused, "The awning and rigging are gone but they can easily be replaced."