d, just before
starting, the _Evening Star_ ran close to the mission smack.

"Lower the boat, Billy," said the skipper to his son as they sat in the
cabin.

"Ay, ay, daddy."

There was a kindliness now in the tone of David Bright's voice when he
spoke to Billy that drew out the heart of that urchin as it had never
been drawn out before, save by his mother's soft voice, and which
produced a corresponding sweetness in the tones of the boy--for "love
begets love."

The mission skipper received his visitor with unwonted heartiness.

"I pray the Lord to give you a good time on shore, David," he said, as
they went down to the cabin, where some of the other skippers were
having a chat and a cup of coffee.

"He'll do that," said David. "He did it last time. My dear missis
could scarce believe her ears when I told her I was converted, or her
eyes when she saw the Bethel-flag and the temperance pledge."

"Praise the Lord!" exclaimed two or three of those present, with deep
sincerity, as David thus referred to his changed condition.

"I can't bide with 'ee, lads," said David, "for time's up, but before
startin' I _would_ like to have a little prayer with 'ee, an' a hymn to
the Master's praise."

We need not say that they were all ready to comply. After concluding,
they saw him into his boat, and bade him God-speed in many a homely but
hearty phrase.

"Good-bye, skipper; fare ye well, Billy; the Lord be with 'ee, Joe."

John Gunter was not omitted in the salutations, and his surly spirit was
a little, though not much, softened as he replied.

"Fare ye well, mates," shouted David, as he once more stood on his own
deck, and let his vessel fall away. A toss of the hand followed the
salutation. Little Billy echoed the sentiment and the toss, and in a
few minutes the _Evening Star_ was making her way out of the fleet and
heading westward.

The night which followed was wild, and the wind variable. Next day the
sun did not show itself at all till evening, and the wind blew dead
against them. At sunset, red and lurid gleams in the west, and leaden
darkness in the east, betokened at the best unsteady weather.

Little did these bold mariners, however, regard such signs--not that
they were reckless, but years of experience had accustomed them to think
lightly of danger--to face and overcome it with equanimity. In addition
to his native coolness, David Bright had now the mighty _power_ of
humble trust in God to sustai