“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.”