disposed to sleep he took up his Bible, as he had
been accustomed to do when tending sheep on the Springvale downs, and
began to read. Old Jim gazed at him with open eyes. To see a
ship's-boy reading a book, and that book the Bible, as he guessed it to
be, was entirely out of his experience. "He must be a curious chap," he
said to himself; "I don't know that he will suit us, after all; but then
he will soon get all that knocked out of him I have a notion."

Peter, who never failed to pray that God's Holy Spirit would enlighten
his mind when he read the Bible, was so completely absorbed in perusing
the sacred page, that he did not observe old Jim's glances, nor hear his
muttered words. At length, feeling his eyes heavy, he closed the book
and replaced it in his bosom. Then he lay down, as he had been advised,
on the locker, and was soon fast asleep. The fatigue he had gone
through, and the heat of the cabin, made him sleep soundly, and he did
not hear the noise of the men's feet on deck as the warps were cast off,
or their "yeo! yeo! yeos!" as they hoisted the sails.

The captain, who came into the cabin to deposit his papers and several
articles he had brought on board, did not rouse him up, and the _Polly_
gliding smoothly out of the harbour, was some distance from the land
before he awoke.

The sun, a bright ball of fire setting the heavens all ablaze, was
sinking into the ocean astern when Peter made his way on deck; the coast
with its sandy bays, rocky cliffs, and lofty headlands, their western
sides tinged with a ruddy glow appearing on the left, while the calm
ocean of an almost purple tint with a golden hue cast across it,
stretched away to the right.

Peter felt its beauty and majestic tranquillity far more than he could
have found words to express. The dark sails, the dirty deck, the
begrimed countenances and slovenly dress of the crew contrasted with the
purity of the sky and ocean all around.

The captain and old Jim his mate were standing aft, speaking to each
other. They were apparently talking about him, for they cast their
glances towards where he stood looking round and uncertain what to do.

He was aroused by the captain shouting to him: "You are one of the
sleeping order, youngster, I see; you have had a long snooze; you will
have to keep your eyes open in future. What is your name?"

"Peter Gray, sir," answered the boy.

"Peter is enough for us," said the captain. "Now go forward; yo