the ocean, a spectacle novel and beautiful
to him, when old Jim, in a gruff voice, told him to go and turn in.
Though he would infinitely have preferred remaining on deck, he did as
he was bid.

He did not omit, before he took off his clothes, to kneel down and pray
for protection for himself and all on board. No one saw the young boy
in the attitude of prayer, or he would not have escaped interruption,
but Peter knew that God saw him and heard him. Young and humble as he
was, and unpromising as were the manners of those among whom he had been
thrown, he felt no fear. His mind was at rest. He climbed into his
berth and was soon asleep.

CHAPTER THREE.

PERILS AT SEA.

The _Polly_ had made good progress on her voyage, the North Foreland had
been rounded, and with a fair breeze under all sail she was running to
the north. There were numerous other colliers, brigs and schooners and
vessels of all sizes, scattered far and wide over the sea, some close at
hand, others mere specks, their loftier canvas just rising above the
clearly-defined horizon.

Poor Peter had had a hard life of it, ordered about by every one on
board, often receiving an undeserved cuff and kick, or finding the end
of a rope laid sharply across his shoulders when he did not understand
an order which he had never before heard issued. His clothes and face
and hands were now almost as dirty as those of his companions, although
he did his best to keep them clean, but he had received a rope's-ending
from the cook for taking fresh water for the purpose of washing himself,
and he found that the salt water had little effect on his skin. But he
did not complain. He had a source of comfort within him of which those
around knew nothing. What grieved him most was the fearful language he
heard hourly uttered, God's holy name profaned, foul oaths, and obscene
conversation. Whenever he could he endeavoured to escape from it. He
either tried to get on deck when his shipmates were below, or below when
they were on deck--to get anywhere where they were not. Still, so
persistent are depraved human beings under the influence of Satan, in
showing their enmity to those who love God, and to God Himself, that
they often followed him with their ribald shouts, and kept him forcibly
down among them.

Alas! this is no uncommon scene on board, not only many a collier, but
many a proud ship that sails over the ocean. Still, Peter had not read
his Bible in vain