e is very different to Captain
Renton, but we shall find out all about him by-and-by."

At length the _Phoebe_ went out of dock down to Gravesend. Some of her
passengers had already come on board, the rest here joined us.

We soon found when we got into blue water that Captain Slack was, as
Dick feared, a very different sort of person from Captain Renton. We
had no services on a Sunday, no prayers in the cabin; and, though he had
appeared quiet enough in harbour, he now swore at the men and abused the
officers if anything went wrong. Had Mr Dear known the sort of man he
was, I feel sure that he would not have given him the command of the
ship. The passengers seemed very indifferent to his conduct, as long as
he did not abuse them, and that he took very good care not to do.

"Charley, I hope you have not forgotten to say your prayers," said Dick
to me, one day. "The more ungodly people are around us, the more need
there seems to me that we should pray to be led aright, and kept from
joining in their wickedness. You have got your Bible with you, I hope."

I had, but I had to confess that I had not once looked into it.

"I have not sailed so many years with good Captain Renton, without
learning his ways, and as I want to be guided by the Bible, I am very
sure that I must read it every day. Sometimes I find it a difficult
job, but I don't mind the other men laughing and jeering at me, as they
are fond of doing; neither, Charley, will you, if you are wise. It is
better to fear God, than poor helpless beings like ourselves. That's
what I always say to myself when the others begin to jeer at me."

I promised Dick that I would do as he advised, and that very day when I
went to my berth, on the half-deck, I got out my Bible and began to read
it. I remembered what Captain Renton often said to me, that I must not
read it like a common book, but that I must earnestly pray to be
enlightened by God's Holy Spirit while I read it, to understand its
truths. I did so, and I then saw that I was an utterly lost sinner,
and, as far as my own merits were concerned, had no right to claim
admittance into heaven. But then I saw also, that by trusting to the
merits of Christ, and to His perfect and complete sacrifice offered up
for me, my sins were washed away, and that God would receive me and
welcome me as a dear son; and that at any moment, should I be called out
of the world, I should be sure of eternal happiness. I also lea