Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/37

Rh walking; then came tea, evening prayers in our cabin, and a closing walk on deck.

Yet we had one great trial: our voyage went on; days not to be recalled were passing; we felt that we were fellow-travellers to eternity with all on board; but we were permitted to do nothing for the seamen. On Sunday morning one-half of their number—that is, the watch off duty—had the privilege of attending worship with us in our cabin, if they chose to do so. But we were forbidden to invite them to come, or to speak to them at any time, whether they were on duty or off duty. Nor were we permitted to have services on deck, as is customary in such voyages. Permission for only one of our number to organize a Bible class for them was refused by the captain, on the ground that it would produce insubordination.

As we had every reason to believe that, from the captain to the cook, not one of the ship's crew feared God, we could not but grieve that the door was thus shut against us. Yet we submitted to the authority of the commander of the vessel. One door he could not close against us, for “the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous; his ears are open to their cry." To him we could cry, and no man hinder us.