Captain Hauslar expressed his astonishment at the good order which
prevailed on board the _Myrtle_.
"I have several old hands who have sailed with me for years," observed
her captain; "but many of the rest were rough enough when they joined.
However, by firmness and gentleness, and treating them as fellow-beings
with immortal souls, they now cheerfully do their duty, and many have
been brought to know Christ and serve Him."
Every morning and evening, when the weather permitted it, prayers were
read; the men were allowed certain hours in the week for mending their
clothes, and no work was permitted on Sundays except what was absolutely
necessary; Captain Barrow, however, took care it should not be spent in
idleness. Those who could not read were taught, and books were provided
for those who could make use of them.
"Every ship that sails on the ocean might be like mine," observed
Captain Barrow.
"Yes," was Captain Hauslar's answer, "if every master was a Christian.
Missionaries may benefit the men partially, but until the masters and
officers set them a good example I fear that they will remain much as
they are."
Captain Barrow spoke frequently to Peter and old Hixon, and when the
ship reached Sydney he invited them to remain on board and return with
him. Both Bill and Emery also gladly entered among her crew, while
Captain Hauslar took a passage back in her to England.
After this Peter made several voyages in the _Myrtle_; Captain Barrow
gave him instruction in navigation, for which he showed so much
aptitude, that after one or two voyages he was appointed third-mate, and
on the next he was raised a step higher.
He had not got over his idea that his father was still alive, but where
to seek for him was the question. He earnestly prayed that he might be
led to find his father if he were yet alive, and he told Captain Barrow
what he was so anxious about.
"There are few coasts from which a man cannot escape, except perhaps
from some of the rocks in the Indian seas, or from the islands in the
Pacific, which are rarely visited," observed Captain Barrow. "I would
help you if I could, though I should be sorry to part from you. I would
advise you, if you still hold to your idea, to get a berth on board a
ship making a roving voyage among the islands in those seas, and you
might make inquiries at every place you touch at. You can but do your
best, and if it is God's will you should find him, He, depend on it,
will lead you."
However, Peter made another voyage with Captain Barrow. His first-mate
having got the command of a ship, Peter obtained his berth. His Bible
had ever been his constant companion, and he had not failed to make good
use of it.
The _Myrtle_ had just returned home. She required extensive repairs,
and as many months would pass before she would be ready for sea, Captain
Barrow told Peter that he could obtain for him the command of a vessel
bound out to the Mediterranean. He was about to accept the offer when
he heard that a ship, the _Edgar_, was to sail to the Pacific, with the
master of which Captain Barrow was acquainted. The master, Captain
Sandford, having no first-mate, gladly agreed, when he heard Peter
Gray's character, to give him the berth.
"I am thankful to have my first-officer a Christian," he said; "for I
have too often been defeated in my attempts to bring my crew to the
truth by the indifference or hostility of my mates. Three of my men
have sailed with me for years, and I can trust them; but the rest are of
the ordinary stamp, though I have hopes that by our example and
exhortations they may be brought in the way they should go. Ah, Mr
Gray, Christians enjoy a happiness and freedom from anxiety which no
others possess. I leave my family, knowing that, as His dear children,
they are under God's protection, and they, while I am tossing about on
the ocean, are supported by the same faith, being sure that if I am
called hence we shall meet again in heaven. When I part from my beloved
wife and daughter I can always remind them of that, and the truth cheers
all our hearts."
The _Edgar_ had a fine run down Channel, and there was so much to do in
getting things in order, that there was little time for conversation.
The second-mate, Tom Berge, had never sailed with Captain Sandford
before. He was a bold, hardy seaman of the rough-and-ready school, and
seemed much astonished at the customs of his new captain.
"Our skipper is a good sort of man," he observed to Peter one day, "but
I don't like so much praying and preaching. I cannot help fancying
something is going to happen."
"We want a great many things, and it seems reasonable to me that we
should pray for them to God, who gives us everything."
"But you don't mean to say that He hears such prayers as rough chaps
like me and others aboard here could say?"
"I am sure He hears the prayers of the youngest as well as the oldest of
sailors as well as of landsmen," said Peter. "Jesus Christ says He came
`not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance;' and also God
says, `The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin;' so of course
He will listen to the roughest sinner who turns to Him."
"Would He hear my prayers now?" asked the second-mate.
"If you turn from your sins and seek Him, certainly," answered Peter;
"for He has said, `Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you,' and that was said to all."
At length Berge not only consented to let Peter read the Bible to him,
but gladly accepted a copy of which the captain made him a present, and,
becoming a diligent reader himself, before the _Edgar_ rounded Cape
Horn, could say, "I rejoice in the blood of my risen Saviour."
There is no part of the ocean in which storms are more frequent or more
terrible than off Cape Horn. Just as the _Edgar_ sighted the Cape, she
encountered a heavy gale, the seas rising in mountain billows around
her.
There was on board a young lad in whom Berge had from the first taken
great interest, and who had lately been brought to know Christ. As the
gale was seen approaching, the order was given to close reef the
topsails, and the lad, with others, flew aloft. He was on the lee
yard-arm. The wind struck the ship with unexpected fury. As she heeled
over, he lost his hold and fell into the foaming waters. He was a good
swimmer, and struck out boldly.
"He must be saved!" cried Berge. "Who will go with me?" and, running to
the falls, prepared to lower a boat.
Captain Sandford, though seeing the danger, was unwilling to stop him.
While the rest hung back, the four Christian men who have been spoken of
sprang to the assistance of the mate, and the ship being brought to the
wind, the boat was lowered. Now she rose to the top of a foaming
billow, and now she was lost to sight. Boldly she made her way towards
where the youth was struggling in the waves. Just then a dark squall
with tremendous force struck the ship, and a heavy sea washed over her.
She escaped damage; but when the squall cleared away, the boat was
nowhere to be seen! In vain those on board waited her return.
"They have been summoned hence," said the captain; "God's will be done,
they were all prepared to meet Him. For that let us be thankful."
For several days the ship heeled to and fro, till the wind, coming fair,
she once more stood on her course, and entered the bright waters of the
Pacific.
Peter observed that the captain felt greatly the loss of the brave mate
and his companions. His health had been for some time failing.
One morning, when the lofty Andes had just appeared in sight, he
summoned his first-mate to his bedside.
"Gray," he said, "I feel that I shall not live out the day. I should
first wish to see all the crew, and then I would have a word with you."
The men came, one after the other, and the captain spoke affectionately
and earnestly to each, urging them to seek the Saviour while He might be
found, and recommending them to listen to the first-mate, who would
explain the truth to them.
"Gray," he said, when they had left him, "I must ask you to visit my
wife and daughter when you get home, and bear my last message of love to
them. Take this letter and deliver it, if you can, with your own hands.
Send them the property I leave on board; I know that I can trust you;
with things of this world I have nothing more to do. And now read some
of God's word and pray with me."
Peter remained with the captain till the last, and with sincere sorrow
closed his eyes.
Next day the ship entered the harbour of Valparaiso, where the captain
was attended to his grave by most of his own crew and those of several
other English merchantmen in harbour.
Peter had much felt the want of Christian sympathy in his sorrow. Among
those who had attended the funeral of his late captain, he observed a
tall fine-looking man with grey hair. A second glance convinced him
that he was his old captain, Mr Hauslar.
"What, Gray?" exclaimed the latter, when Peter spoke to him. "I
remember you now. Come on board with me; my ship lies close to yours."
Peter had the satisfaction of finding that his former friend continued a
faithful believer. Delightful to both was the conversation they had
together.
The next day Captain Hauslar accompanied Peter to the agents, and from
his recommendation they directed him to take command of the _Edgar_. A
young Christian man, whose ship had been lost, but the crew rescued by
Captain Hauslar, was appointed to serve as second-mate, and came
accompanied by four South Sea Islanders, who were considered good
seamen.
While the _Edgar_ was getting in her stores Peter enjoyed the company of
his friend, and with renewed spirits and hopes he sailed on his voyage.
The beautiful island of Otaheite and several others were visited. He
then, according to his order, sailed northward, to call at the Sandwich
Islands, thence to proceed to Japan and through the Indian Seas round
the Cape of Good Hope homewards.
Calm as the Pacific is at times, fearful gales sweep across it. To one
of these the _Edgar_ was exposed for several days, and Peter had to
exert all his skill and seamanship to preserve his ship. He did his
best, and putting his trust in God, sought His protection. The gale had
driven the ship considerably out of her course. For some days no
observation could be taken; an anxious look-out was kept, for coral
reefs and islands were near at hand, and with little warning the ship
might be driven on one of them.
The night was unusually dark. Peter and his mates had never left the
deck. Just as morning was about to break a cry was heard of "Land! on
the lee bow!" The ship was put about, and scarcely had she come round
when breakers were seen rising in a foaming wall astern.