During the next four years, many things occurred in which I can plainly trace the love of the Father about me. I had passed through the ranks of ordinary and able seaman, and had come to be second-mate of an American ship bound for Australia. Running Eastward in high latitudes, after having passed the Cape of Good Hope, we encountered a heavy gale of wind; all hands having been called out three times during the night, to shorten sail. At about five in the morning, I sent aloft two men to relieve two others,— one of whom was to take his next watch below, and the other, his post at the wheel. The "reliefs" were returned shortly, with the message to me: "We will not come down for Jesus Christ, 'till we have finished." Later, the insubordinates came down on deck; but no sooner had they reached it, than a sea lifted them off their feet, washed them from side to side, and plunged them overboard. I, with others driven forward by the same sea, succeeded in saving myself — but what a wretched spectacle, to see those two, powerful men hopelessly swimming after the ship! Both captain and first mate saw them, but the fierceness of the gale rendered it impossible to heave-to and put out a boat. Thus, the men who defied even Jesus Christ, in less than an hour had to face the mighty Judge.
A few days after our return to Calcutta I was offered, and accepted, command of a native vessel. My crew throughout was shipped of natives. On our way to P—— a heavy gale blew away all our sails, leaving the ship to run helplessly under bare poles. I let her run before the wind until we got into five fathoms of water, when I dropped both anchors, and waited for daylight. Next morning, on seeing land and finding by my charts that a harbor was dead to leeward, I had hoisted the signal for pilot. About noon, a catamaran with two natives reached us. I took one on board, hauled up the anchors and started for land.
The pilot had said nothing about having to pass through breakers, and I myself was on top of the cabin-house when I suddenly saw my crew jumping overboard. I looked back, and there was a great roller about to break over our stern. The sea boarded the ship, and knocked me down into the hatch (open for trimming shifted cargo) which of course was filled with water. I naturally attempted to swim, but soon found the water disappearing, as it sank into the cargo of "seeds in bulk." I got upon deck, found the ship inside the breakers, but broadside to the wind; the helmsman, with the others, having jumped to avoid being hurt by the sea. Soon, by means of rope-ends hanging over the vessel's side, they all crawled back on board. After much difficulty I got her before the wind and well under shelter; when attempting to cast anchor, I found one was gone, leaving the other to do double duty.
