Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/43

Rh But day dawned, and with it brighter scenes. The wind had abated, and the sea, though still high, was not so violent as to forbid our enjoying its grandeur and sympathizing with the little storm-petrels that joyously skimmed its surface, or admiring the majestic albatross, soaring around us with its sail-like wings (twelve feet from tip to tip) spread to the wind, or settling in easy repose upon the tossing waves.

About this time we began to see some signs of encouragement to persevere in prayer and efforts to benefit our fellow-voyagers. The captain, though often harsh and discontented, frequently came to our religious services. He was evidently ill at ease. A copy of Pilgrim's Progress, which had been lent him, was often in his hands; and his Bible was not unread. One of the crew also, (an English lad of respectable and pious parentage,) was very seriously impressed with divine things. He told our doctor, who daily went to the forecastle to visit a poor sick sailor, that he had resolved to be a Christian.

One Sunday evening, when George was at the wheel, (by which the rudder is turned, and the ship guided, the ladies seated near him commenced singing hymns. They were singing,