"Very well," replied Ray. And notice was at once sent out among the people announcing the fact, while he went up to the parsonage to apprise Mr. Carleton of the liberty he had taken.
"I am sure you have done wisely, Ray," his pastor heartily replied. "Very few of the Forge people come up to our service, anyway, and I think myself this work ought to be followed up for a while. Will you give notice that services will be held there every night this week, and that you, on next Sunday afternoon, will lead the services again? I know your arrangements for the week will not permit you to be there, but I will go down, and take some of our church people with me."
The evening service was not unlike the afternoon one. Ray spoke from the words: "Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."
Sailor Jack sat in the front seat, and never took his eyes from Ray while he was speaking. As soon as he had finished, the man jumped to his feet, and turning around so as to face the audience, exclaimed:
"I see it all now. All my life I have been denying Jesus, and of course he has been denying me; and he isn't going to confess me till I first confess him. So here, now, before you all who know just how wicked I have been, I declare that Christ is the Son of God; that he came into this world to save sinners of whom I am chief. But even I am not beyond the reach of his power. For he has promised, 'him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.'" And he sat down with his face fairly reflecting the peace which had come into his soul.
Ray had hoped that his brother George, and his other sisters might, on this evening, manifest a desire to be reconciled unto God through Christ. Betsy and his older sister and he had all prayed for them, but none of them arose with those who asked the prayers of Christians. While rejoicing, therefore, that others were coming, Ray felt he still had much to keep him humble and prayerful; he could not be satisfied until all of his own home friends had found Jesus.
He was somewhat elated, an hour or so later, to have his brother George come up to his room, for he thought it must be that he had come for spiritual help. When he had closed the door, however, George said in a whisper:
"I came up here, Ray, to talk with you about Tom and Dick; you know, after their examination, they were taken over to the county jail to wait their trial before the higher court."
"Yes," replied Ray, sadly; "I was over to see them once, but they would hardly speak with me. What of them? Their trial comes off next week."
"No, it don't; for they escaped from the jail Thanksgiving night, and got on to an outward-bound ship for South America before the officers could overhaul them," explained George. "I heard of it only this afternoon, and haven't told any of the others yet."