Jack was, of course, also chosen, and found himself under the orders of Mr. Statten, the second mate, with Charley Wilton, a lad of his own age, as companion.
Of the other two boys who belonged to the port or chief mate's watch, he saw but little, since while he kept the deck they were 'below,' but the elder of them, George Archer, was a bright, cheery-mannered lad of sixteen, while his companion, Edward Sorter, was rough-looking, ill-tempered, and worse-mannered, and he was mostly left to his own reflections.
With that youth Jack experienced his first difficulty in keeping faith with his father.
As night closed in Jack prepared to 'turn out for duty at eight bells.' Shortly before that time he determined to read a few words from the Bible, and on his knees ask the protection of God during the hours of darkness.
While he read, Sorter entered the room. 'Hullo!' he cried, 'what sort of yarn are you reading?'
'It is the Bible,' Jack replied.
'The what! you Psalm-singing booby, we don't want that kind of thing here! Put it away at once!'
Jack went on reading until the book was suddenly snatched from his hand, and thrown to the end of the room.
In an instant the insulted lad was on his feet, his eyes flashing, and his fists clenched ready to strike out in defence of the volume which his beloved and dead mother had so treasured.
'See here, Sorter,' he said, 'I don't want to fight with you. I mean to read my Bible in spite of whatever you may think or do; but if ever you attempt to check me again I think I know how to defend myself.'