God; and then he showed me
the only way by which I could become fit to dwell with God. It seemed
so plain, so simple, so beautiful, so unlike any idea man could
conceive, that I, as it were, sprang to it, just as a drowning man
springs to a rock, and clutching it, lifts himself up clear of the
tangled weeds which are dragging him to destruction. From that moment I
became a changed man, and gained a peace and happiness of which I knew
nothing before."

"Dr Morgan's regards, and he hopes you'll step into the dining-room,
Mr Holman," said the parlour-maid, opening the door.

Tom was soon seated among the family circle, his manner showing that he
was perfectly at his ease without the slightest show of presumption.

"Tom, they want to hear about our adventures, and I've told them that I
must have you present to confirm my account, lest they should suppose I
am romancing," said Frank, as Tom entered.

"They wouldn't think that, Mr Morgan," answered Tom. "But, however,
I'll take the helm for a spell if you get out of your right course."

"I don't doubt you, old shipmate," said Frank. "But before I get under
weigh with my yarn I want you to give them a few pages out of your log
before you and I sailed together."

Tom guessed what this request meant. "Well, sir, if your honourable
father and mother and you wish it, I'll tell you all I know about
myself. For what I know to the contrary, I was born at sea. My first
recollections were of a fearful storm on the ocean. We were tossing
about in a boat. One of them, whom I for a long time afterwards thought
was my father, had charge of me. He was a kind-hearted man, and looked
after me most carefully. He went by the name of Jack Johnson, but
sailors often change their names, especially if they have deserted, or
have done anything for which they think that they may be punished. He
always called me Tom, and I didn't know that I had any other name till
he told me that my name was Holman, that he had known my father, who was
a very respectable man, who, with my mother, and many other people, had
been lost at sea. He said that he had saved me, and that we, with a few
others, were the only people who had escaped from the wreck. We had
been picked up by a ship outward bound round the Horn. Two of the men
died, the rest entered on board the whaler, and as the captain could not
well pitch me overboard he was obliged to take me; for indeed Jack, who
was the best seaman of t