Adventures and adventurers > Voyages and travels of a Bible

OT- A HI rtf.K.
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i captain called all liandg into the cabin who could be spared
from managing the vessel. They knelt down, and the cap-
li tain prayed to the God of heaven to have mercy upon them,
i and preserve them from foundering in the midst of the ocean.
1 In the morning, the clouds began to disperse, and the wind
i to fall ; and, consequently, the sea became less tempestuous.
This change occasioned my dismission from the cabin, and
1 Iteing thrown as useless lumber into my old hammock. Next
evening, being found troublesome to the captain’s head when
I he laid it on the pillow, I was ordered into his chest, under
I lock and key. I made no complaints, but silently submitted
to these insults. There I lay almost smothered ; for I had
not a friend on board to intercede for me, nor even to say a
word in my belralf; on the contrary, I overheard some of
them laughing at their having allowed me to address them
the former night, and still more at the impression my speech
made upon their minds at the time. Is not the patience of
my God wonderful with the rebellious sons of men ? Is it not
astonishing that he did not in ire plunge them into a watery
grave 1 But he is slow to anger, and possesses great pity.
For nearly a week, there was hardly a breath of wind, and
the vessel lay like a log in the water, moving neither one
way nor another. The people on board hardly knew how to
employ themselves. Sometimes they sung songs, and at other
times they amused themselves with games ; but they were
so discouraged by the continuance of the Calm', that these
things lost their power to please. The captain, one morning,
went to his chest, and opened it without knowing what-he
wanted. He stood motionless for some time, looking down
upon the articles which it contained, When, observing the
corner of my red coat, he took me up, and brought me forth
to the light. Now, I had once more my liberty to speak,
when I addressed to him the substance of the 107th Psalm,
I saw he felt the force of what I said. He desired me to be
silent till he considered what I had now stated. t>c
He now began in good earnest to attend to my instructions,
and sometimes would continue consulting me about various
things till midnight. He made a rule that no one should
swear an oath on board his ship ; at the same time, he en¬
deavoured to convince all of the sinfulness thereof. This
conduct in the captain made a wonderful change in my cir¬
cumstances ; I was locked up no more ; indeed, most people
on board prufessed a desire to hold a little converse with me
every day. Being the only one of my nation on lioard, I had
abundant employment for a while. A tine breera? springing
up, we were soon wafted to our desired haven, which occa¬
sioned great joy to all on hoard.