s
well as any of them, they would be more ready to listen. He did his
utmost, therefore, to learn his duty as a seaman. Old Jim began to
treat him with less harshness than at first, and in his rough way gave
him instruction in the art he wished to acquire; he taught him to box
the compass and to steer, and even explained why various manoeuvres were
performed. Still, when Peter began to speak about the Bible, or
anything contained in it, he either turned a deaf ear or angrily told
him to mind his own business.

The Tyne was at last reached, and Peter's wonder was excited by the
large city he saw stretching up the hill, and the numerous other towns
and villages which lined the banks of that important river, but still
more by the numberless vessels taking in their cargoes of coal, shot
down into their holds from the cliffs above them. Much as he wished it
he was not allowed to go on shore, the captain suspecting that, like his
predecessors, he might not return. Though he had harder work than ever,
yet, having fewer task-masters, he was less ill-treated than before.

The _Polly_ having received her cargo, again put to sea, bound, Peter
heard, for the Thames.

Hitherto the weather had been fine, and he had escaped sea-sickness and
wet clothes. A few nights after leaving the Tyne it came on to blow
hard, with the wind right ahead, and the _Polly_ began to tumble about
in a way which made Peter feel very miserable. Sometimes, though under
close-reefed topsails, she heeled down so much that he could scarcely
stand on the wet slippery deck, and he fancied that she would go over
altogether. The dark green seas, with their foaming crests, rolled up
on either hand, and frequently broke on board in showers of spray, as
the brig ploughed her way amid them: now she rose to the top of a
mountain billow; now she plunged down on the opposite side, with her
bowsprit almost under water, and now the sea struck her and made her
frame quiver fore and aft. The scene was a terrible one to look at--how
different from that Peter had witnessed the first day he had been at
sea!--still he did not fear; he knew that the same Almighty hand who
guarded him then protected him now, but he did feel that he might at any
moment be summoned into the presence of One he had loved on earth, and
who would, he knew, welcome him in heaven, not on account of any merit
of his own, but because he took Him at His word and trusted His Son,
whom He had sent