“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.