the sinner, even at the last, and this shows that God does
not expect us to do anything good in order to be saved, but only just to
put faith in the sacrifice of His dear Son--that is to say, to believe
that He was punished instead of us. But then remember, captain, that
only one thief was saved; and that shows to us that we must not put off
turning to Jesus to the last, and, therefore, I pray you, captain, go to
Him at once; trust to Him now, and you will not feel unhappy; and if
this fever takes you away, as it has taken away so many people on board
this ship, you will hab no fear of death, for you will go to live with
Jesus, and be happy with Him for ever and ever."

Captain Willis groaned. "I'll pray wid you, captain," said Paul, and he
knelt down by the side of the bed, and lifted up his voice in prayer,
and earnestly besought God to send His Holy Spirit to soften the
captain's heart, and to enlighten his mind.

I had listened attentively to all that Paul had said, and I prayed that
the blessing which he asked for the captain might descend on me also;
for I had begun to discover that my heart was very hard, and prone to
evil, and that I had no love for Jesus, no desire to obey His law. Thus
the truths of the gospel, as they fell from the lips of the black
sailor, first came home to my heart.

Several days passed by--the "Chieftain" was got ready for sea, and the
captain considered himself well enough to take the command.

CHAPTER FIVE.

WE AT LENGTH GET OUT OF THE RIVER INTO THE OPEN SEA, BUT A CALM COMES
ON, AND THE CAPTAIN AGAIN BECOMES VERY ILL.--NO ONE ON BOARD
UNDERSTANDING NAVIGATION, I DOUBT WHETHER I SHALL FIND MY WAY TO SIERRA
LEONE.--THE CAPTAIN DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT HE IS IN DANGER.--PAUL PLEADS
WITH HIM ABOUT THE SAFETY OF HIS SOUL.--A FIRE BREAKS OUT IN THE HOLD.--
WE IN VAIN ENDEAVOUR TO EXTINGUISH IT.--THE REST OF THE CREW DESERT
US.--PAUL AND I ENDEAVOUR TO SAVE THE CAPTAIN, BUT DRIVEN FROM THE CABIN
BY THE FLAMES LEAP OVERBOARD AND REACH A SMALL BOAT, WHICH WE RIGHT AND
GET INTO.--SEE A SCHOONER APPROACHING US.

At day-break the pilot came on board, the sails were loosed, the anchor
hove-up, and the "Chieftain," with a hot land breeze, which still blew
strong, glided down the river. Captain Willis, who had been brought
from his cabin by Paul and Sambo, sat propped up with pillows on the
deck. It was melancholy to see him, his once strong frame reduced to a
mere skeleton, his countena