captain called all hands into the cabin who could be spared from managing the vessel. They knelt down, and the captain prayed to the God of heaven to have mercy upon them, and preserve them from foundering in the midst of the ocean. In the morning, the clouds began to disperse, and the wind to fall; and, eonsequently, the sea became less tempestuous. This change oeeasioned my dismission from the cabin, and being thrown as useless lumber into my old hammoek. Next evening, being found troublesome to the captain’s head when he laid it on the pillow, I was ordered into his ehest, under lock and key. I made no complaints, but silently submitted to these insults. There I lay almost smothered; for I had not a friend on board to intercede for me, nor even to say a word in my behalf; on the contrary, I overheard some of them laughing at their having allowed me to address them the former night, and still more at the impression my speech made upon their minds at the time. Is not the patience of my God wonderful with the rebellious sons of men? Is it not astonishing that he did not in iro plunge them into a watery grave? But he is slow to anger, and possesses great pity.
For nearly a week, there was hardly a breath of wind, and the vessel lay like a log in the water, moving neither one way nor another. The people on board hardly knew how to employ themselves. Sometimes they sung songs, and at other times they amused themselves with games; but they were so discouraged by the eontinuance of the calm, that these things lost their power to please. The captain, one morning, went to his chest, and opened it without knowing what he wanted. He stood motionless for some time, looking down upon the artieles which it eontained, When, observing the corner of my red coat, he took me up, and brought me forth to the light. Now, I had once more my liberty to speak, when I addressed to him the substance of the 107th Psalm, I saw he felt the foree of what I said. He desired me to be silent till he eonsidered what I had now stated.
He now began in good earnest to attend to my instruetions, and sometimes would eontinue consulting me about various things till midnight. He made a rule that no one should swear an oath on board his ship; at the same time, he endeavoured to convince all of the sinfulness thereof. This conduet in the captain made a wonderful change in my eireumstances; I was loeked up no more; indeed, most people on board professed a desire to hold a little converse with me every day. Being the only one of my nation on board, I had abundant employment for a while. A fine breeze springing up, we were soon wafted to our desired haven, which oecasioned great joy to all on board.
