ything."

"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."

"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 wil