The History of Little Peter, the Ship Boy Part 9

Bill and the black steward were on the opposite sh.o.r.e collecting mussels. Hixon stood gazing at the stranger for some minutes, and then said to himself, "I had better go too, or maybe they will not tell of the captain and the rest."

As he neared the further end of the rock he found the ship hove-to and a boat approaching the sh.o.r.e. On reaching the little bay into which the boat had put, he found that the starving people had tumbled into her, and that she had already shoved off. He shouted loudly. The boat put back. The captain of the ship, who had himself come in the boat with provisions and water, having heard his account, expressed his indignation at the men who would have allowed their shipmates to be left behind. They replied that they were afraid it would come on to blow again, and that the ship might be driven off and they left behind.

"I would not desert them if I had to remain a week or a month more,"

answered the captain, ordering two of his crew to accompany him, and to bring a boat-sail with two spars.

"It's some miles from here, sir," observed Hixon.

"Never mind; if it were ten miles we will bring your sick captain with us," was the reply.

The men told Hixon that their ship was the _Myrtle_, bound out to New South Wales, and their captain's name was Barrow.

It was nearly dark when Captain Barrow reached the hut, and was thankfully welcomed by poor Captain Hauslar.

"I am afraid that for my sake you will expose your ship to risk,"

observed the latter during their conversation.

"Do not trouble yourself about that, my friend; my first-mate is an excellent seamen, and my crew obedient and trustworthy. It's too dark to go aboard to-night; we will start to-morrow, if, as I trust, you can bear the journey after a night's rest and some food."

The fire was quickly lighted, and a meal prepared such as the shipwrecked party had not partaken of for many a day.

"I will join you and your people in offering thanksgiving to G.o.d for His many mercies," said Captain Barrow. "You, I trust, acknowledge Him in all your ways?"

"I did not till lately," was the answer. And then Captain Hauslar told him that he was indebted to young Peter for being brought to the truth.

"I should like to have that boy with me, then," observed Captain Barrow.

"One youngster like that can exert a wonderful influence for good among a crew. I frequently get rough characters, and it takes long before they can be brought into order. Every a.s.sistance is of value."

The journey to the boat was performed the next morning, Captain Barrow a.s.sisting in carrying his brother commander. Although the wind blew heavily, the ship was reached in safety, and she was once more put on her course.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

PETER RISES IN THE WORLD.

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 pa.s.sage 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 apt.i.tude, 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 G.o.d'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 pa.s.s 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 G.o.d'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 G.o.d, 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 G.o.d 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 a.s.sistance 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; "G.o.d'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."