He was right. When the losses of that night came to be reckoned up,
several good vessels were discovered to be missing, but the rotten old
_Rainbow_ still remained undestroyed though not unscathed, and a sad
sight met the eyes of the men of the fleet when daylight revealed the
fact that some of the smacks had their flags flying half-mast,
indicating that many men had been washed overboard and lost during the
night.

As the day advanced, the weather improved, and the fishermen began to
look anxiously out for the steamer which was to convey their fish to
market, but none was to be seen. Although a number of steamers run
between Billingsgate and the Short Blue fleet, it sometimes happens that
they do not manage to find the fleet at once, and occasionally a day or
more is lost in searching for it--to the damage of the fish if the
weather be warm. It seemed as if a delay of this kind, had happened on
the occasion of which we write; the admiral therefore signalled to let
down the nets for a day haul.

While this was being done, a vessel was seen to join the fleet from the
westward.

"That's Singin' Peter," said David Bright to his mate. "I'd know his
rig at any distance."

"So it is. P'raps he's got letters for us."

Singing Peter was one of the many fishermen who had been brought to a
knowledge of Jesus Christ and saved from his sins. Wild and careless
before conversion, he afterwards became an enthusiastic follower of the
Lamb of God, and was so fond of singing hymns in His praise that he
became known in the fleet by the sobriquet of Singing Peter. His
beaming face and wholly changed life bore testimony to what the Holy
Spirit had wrought in him.

Peter had been home to Gorleston on his week of holiday, and had now
returned to the fleet for his eight weeks' fishing-cruise, carrying a
flag to show that he had just arrived, bringing letters and clothes,
etcetera, for some of the crews.

"I used to think Peter warn't a bad feller," said David Bright, as the
new arrival drew near; "he was always good company, an' ready for his
glass, but now he's taken to singin' psalms, I can make nothin' of 'im."

"There's them in the fleet that like him better since he took to that,"
said Luke Trevor.

"It may be so, lad, but that's not accordin' to _my_ taste," retorted
the skipper.

David was, however, by no means a surly fellow. When Peter's vessel
came within hail, he held up his hand and shouted--

"What cheer! w