hat their skippers were more or less
instructed in the healing art. In this belief they were right; for in
addition to the well-appointed medicine-chest, each vessel has a skipper
who undergoes a certain amount of instruction, and possesses a practical
and plain book of directions specially prepared under the supervision of
the Board of Trade for the use of captains at sea.

One can imagine, therefore, what a relief it was to this poor wounded
man to be taken down into the cabin and have his head at last attended
to by one who "knew what he was about." The operation of dressing was
watched with the deepest interest and curiosity by the fishermen
assembled there, for it was their first experience of the value, even in
temporal matters, of a Gospel ship. Their ears were open, too, as well
as their eyes, and they listened with much interest to Fred Martin as he
tried, after a silent prayer for the Holy Spirit's influence, to turn
his first operation to spiritual account in his Master's interest.

"Tell me if I hurt you," he said, observing that his patient winced a
little when he was removing the bandage.

"Go on," said the man quietly. "I ain't a babby to mind a touch of
pain."

The cabin being too small to hold them all, some of the visitors
clustered round the open skylight, and gazed eagerly down, while a few
who could not find a point of vantage contented themselves with
listening. Even Dick Martin was an observer at that operation, for,
having been roused by the bustle around him, he raised himself on an
elbow, and looking down from his berth, could both hear and see.

"There now," said Fred Martin, when at last the bandage was removed and
the festering mass laid bare. "Hand the scissors, Pat."

Pat Stiver, who was assistant-surgeon on that occasion, promptly handed
his chief the desired instrument, and stood by for further orders.

"I'll soon relieve you," continued Fred, removing the clotted hair,
etcetera, in a few seconds, and applying a cleansing lotion. "I cut it
off, you see, just as the Great Physician cuts away our sins, and washes
us clean in the fountain of His own blood. You feel better already,
don't you?"

"There's no doubt about that," replied the patient looking up with a
great sigh of relief that told far more than words could convey.

We will not record all that was said and done upon that occasion. Let
it suffice to say that the man's wound was put in a fair way of recovery
witho