It is interesting to observe the curious, and oftentimes unlikely, ways in which the guilt1 of man is brought to light, and the truth of that word demonstrated—“Be sure your sin shall find you out.”
Although John Gunter’s heart was softened2 at the time of his old skipper’s death, it was by no means changed, so that, after a brief space, it became harder than ever, and the man who had been melted—to some extent washed—returned, ere long, with increased devotion to his wallowing in the mire3. This made him so disagreeable to his old comrades, that they became anxious to get rid of him, but Joe Davidson, whose disposition4 was very hopeful, hesitated; and the widow, having a kindly5 feeling towards the man because he had sailed with her husband, did not wish him to be dismissed.
Thus it came to pass that when Captain Bream joined the Short Blue fleet he was still a member of the crew of the new Evening Star.
The day following that on which the captain arrived was Sunday, and, as usual, the smacks6 whose skippers had become followers8 of the Lord Jesus began to draw towards the mission-ship with their Bethel-flags flying. Among them was the new admiral—Joe of the Evening Star. His vessel9 was pointed10 out, of course, to the captain as she approached. We need scarcely say that he looked at her with unusual interest, and was glad when her boat was lowered to row part of her crew to the service about to be held in the hold of the gospel-ship.
It was natural that Captain Bream should be much taken with the simple cheery manners of the admiral, as he stepped aboard and shook hands all round. It was equally natural that he should take some interest, also, in John Gunter, for was it not obvious that that worthy11 was a fine specimen12 of the gruff, half-savage, raw material which he had gone out there to work upon?
“Why did you not bring Billy, Joe?” asked the skipper of the mission vessel.
“Well, you know, we had to leave some one to look after the smack7, an’ I left Luke Trevor, as he said he’d prefer to come to evenin’ service, an’ Billy said he’d like to stay with Luke.”
By this time a number of boats had put their rough-clad crews on the deck, and already a fair congregation was mustered13. Shaking of hands, salutations, question and reply, were going briskly on all round, with here and there a little mild chaffing, and occasionally a hearty15 laugh, while now and then the fervent16 “thank God” and “praise the Lord” revealed the spirits of the speakers.
“You mentioned the name of Billy just now,” said Captain Bream, drawing Joe Davidson aside. “Is he a man or a boy?”
“He’s a boy, sir, though he don’t like to be reminded o’ the fact,” said Joe with a laugh. “He’s the son of our skipper who was drowned—an’ a good boy he is, though larky17 a bit. But that don’t do him no harm, bless ye.”
“I wonder,” returned the captain, “if he is the boy some lady friends of mine are so fond of, who was sent up to London some time ago to—”
“That’s him, sir,” interrupted Joe; “it was Billy as was sent to Lun’on; by the wish of a Miss Ruth Pont-rap-me, or some such name. I never can remember it rightly, but she’s awful fond o’ the fisher-folks.”
“Ah, I know Miss Ruth Dotropy also,” said the captain. “Strange that I should find this Billy that they’re all so fond of in the new Evening Star. I must pay your smack a visit soon, Davidson, for I have a particular interest in her.”
“I’ll be proud to see you aboard her, sir,” returned Joe. “Won’t you come after service? The calm will last a good while, I think.”
“Well, perhaps I may.”
The conversation was interrupted here by a general move to the vessel’s hold, where the usual arrangements had been made—a table for a pulpit and fish-boxes for seats.
“Do you feel well enough to speak to us to-day, Captain Bream?” asked the skipper of the mission-ship.
“Oh yes, I’ll be happy to do so. The trip out has begun to work wonders already,” said the captain.
Now, the truth of that proverb, “One man may take a horse to the water, but ten men can’t make him drink,” is very often illustrated18 in the course of human affairs. You may even treat a donkey in the same way, and the result will be similar.
Joe Davidson had brought John Gunter to the mission-ship in the earnest hope that he would drink at the gospel fountain, but, after having got him there, Joe found that, so far from drinking, Gunter would not even go down to the services at all. On this occasion he said that he preferred to remain on deck, and smoke his pipe.
Unknown to all the world, save himself, John Gunter was at that time in a peculiarly unhappy state of mind. His condition was outwardly manifested in the form of additional surliness.
“You’re like a bear with a sore head,” Spivin had said to him when in the boat on the way to the service.
“More like a black-face baboon20 wid de cholera,” said Zulu.
Invulnerable alike to chaff14 and to earnest advice, Gunter sat on the fore-hatch smoking, while psalms21 of praise were rising from the hold.
Now, it was the little silver watch which caused all this trouble to Gunter. Bad as the man was, he had never been an absolute thief until the night on which he had robbed Ruth Dotropy. The horror depicted22 in her pretty, innocent face when he stopped her had left an impression on his mind which neither recklessness nor drink could remove, and thankfully would he have returned the watch if he had known the young lady’s name or residence. Moreover, he was so inexperienced and timid in this new line of life, that he did not know how to turn the watch into cash with safety, and had no place in which to conceal23 it. On the very day about which we write, seeing the Coper not far off, the unhappy man had thrust the watch into his trousers pocket with the intention of bartering24 it with the Dutchman for rum, if he should get the chance. Small chance indeed, with Joe Davidson for his skipper! but there is no accounting25 for the freaks of the guilty.
The watch was now metaphorically26 burning a hole in Gunter’s pocket, and, that pocket being somewhat similar in many respects to the pockets of average schoolboys, Ruth’s pretty little watch lay in company with a few coppers27, a bit of twine28, a broken clasp-knife, two buttons, a short pipe, a crumpled29 tract30 of the Mission to Deep-Sea Fishermen, and a half-finished quid of tobacco.
But although John Gunter would not drink of his own free-will, he could not easily avoid the water of life that came rushing to him up the hatchway and filled his ears. It came to him first, as we have said, in song; and the words of the hymn31, “Sinner, list to the loving call,” passed not only his outer and inner ear, but dropped into his soul and disturbed him.
Then he got a surprise when Captain Bream’s voice resounded32 through the hold,—there was something so very deep and metallic33 about it, yet so tender and musical. But the greatest surprise of all came when the captain, without a word of preface or statement as to where his text was to be found, looked his expectant audience earnestly in the face, and said slowly, “Thou shalt not steal.”
Poor Captain Bream! nothing was further from his thoughts than the idea that any one listening to him was actually a thief! but he had made up his mind to press home, with the Spirit’s blessing34, the great truth that the man who refuses to accept salvation35 in Jesus Christ robs God of the love and honour that are His due; robs his wife and children and fellow-men of the good example and Christian36 service which he was fitted and intended to exert, and robs himself, so to speak, of Eternal Life.
The captain’s arguments had much weight in the hold, but they had no weight on deck. Many of his shafts37 of reason were permitted to pierce the tough frames of the rugged38 men before him, and lodge39 with good influence in tender hearts, but they all fell pointless on the deck above. It was the pure unadulterated Word of God, “without note or comment,” that was destined40 that day to penetrate41 the iron heart of John Gunter, and sink down into his soul. “Thou shalt not steal!” That was all of the sermon that Gunter heard; the rest fell on deaf ears, for these words continued to burn into his very soul. Influenced by the new and deep feelings that had been aroused in him, he pulled the watch from his pocket with the intention of hurling42 it into the sea, but the thought that he would still deserve to be called a thief caused him to hesitate.
“Hallo! Gunter, what pretty little thing is that you’ve got?”
The words were uttered by Dick Herring of the White Cloud, who, being like-minded with John, had remained on deck like him to smoke and lounge.
“You’ve got no business wi’ that,” growled43 Gunter, as he closed his hand on the watch, and thrust it back into his pocket.
“I didn’t say I had, mate,” retorted Herring, with a puff44 of contempt, which at the same time emptied his mouth and his spirit.
Herring said no more; but when the service was over, and the men were chatting about the deck, he quietly mentioned what he had seen, and some of the waggish45 among the crew came up to Gunter and asked him, with significant looks and laughs, what time o’ day it was.
At first Gunter replied in his wonted surly manner; but at last, feeling that the best way would be to put a bold face on the matter, he said with an off-hand laugh—
“Herring thinks he’s made a wonderful discovery, but surely there’s nothing very strange in a man buyin’ a little watch for his sweetheart.”
“You don’t mean to say that you have a sweetheart do you?” said a youth of about seventeen, who had a tendency to be what is styled cheeky.
Gunter turned on him with contempt. “Well, now,” he replied, “if I had a smooth baby-face like yours I would not say as I had, but bein’ a man, you see, I may ventur’ to say that I have.”
“Come, Gunter, you’re too hard on ’im,” cried Spivin; “I don’t believe you’ve bought a watch for her at all; at least if you have, it must be a pewter one.”
Thus taunted46, Gunter resolved to carry out the bold line of action. “What d’ee call that?” he cried, pulling out the watch and holding it up to view.
Captain Bream chanced to be an amused witness of this little scene, but his expression changed to one of amazement47 when he beheld48 the peculiar19 and unmistakable watch which, years before, he had given to Ruth Dotropy’s father. Recovering himself quickly he stepped forward.
“A very pretty little thing,” he said, “and looks uncommonly49 like silver. Let me see it.”
He held out his hand, and Gunter gave it to him without the slightest suspicion, of course, that he knew anything about it. “Yes, undoubtedly50 it is silver, and a very curious style of article too,” continued the captain in a low off-hand tone. “You’ve no objection to my taking it to the cabin to look at it more carefully?”
Of course Gunter had no objection, though a sensation of uneasiness arose within him, especially when Captain Bream asked him to go below with him, and whispered to Joe Davidson in a low tone, as he passed him, to shut the cabin skylight.
No sooner were they below, with the cabin-door shut, than the captain looked steadily52 in the man’s face, and said—
“Gunter, you stole this watch from a young lady in Yarmouth.”
An electric shock could not have more effectually stunned53 the convicted fisherman. He gazed at the captain in speechless surprise. Then his fists clenched54, a rush of blood came to his face, and a fierce oath rose to his white lips as he prepared to deny the charge.
“Stop!” said the captain, impressively, and there was nothing of severity or indignation in his voice or look. “Don’t commit yourself, Gunter. See, I place the watch on this table. If you bought it to give to your sweetheart, take it up. If you stole it from a pretty young lady in one of the rows of Yarmouth some months ago, and would now wish me to restore it to her—for I know her and the watch well—let it lie.”
Gunter looked at the captain, then at the watch, and hesitated. Then his head drooped55, and in a low voice he said—
“I am guilty, sir.”
Without a word more, Captain Bream laid his hand on the poor man’s shoulder and pressed it. Gunter knew well what was meant. He went down on his knees. The captain kneeled beside him, and in a deep, intensely earnest voice, claimed forgiveness of the sin that had been confessed, and prayed that the sinner’s soul might be there and then cleansed56 in the precious blood of Jesus.
John Gunter was completely broken down; tears rolled over his cheeks, and it required all his great physical strength to enable him to keep down the sobs57 that well-nigh choked him.
Fishermen of the North Sea are tough. Their eyes are not easily made to swell58 or look red by salt water, whether it come from the ocean without or the mightier59 ocean within. When Gunter had risen from his knees and wiped his eyes with the end of a comforter, which had probably been worked under the superintendence of Ruth herself; there were no signs of emotion left—only a subdued60 look in his weatherworn face.
“I give myself up, sir,” he said, “to suffer what punishment is due.”
“No punishment is due, my man. Jesus has borne all the punishment due to you and me. In regard to man, you have restored that which you took away, and well do I know that the young lady—like her Master—forgives freely. I will return the watch to her. You can go back to your comrades—nobody shall ever hear more about this. If they chaff you, or question you, just say nothing, and smile at them.”
“But—but, sir,” said Gunter, moving uneasily.
“I ain’t used to smilin’. I—I’ve bin51 so used to look gruff that—”
“Look gruff, then, my man,” interrupted the captain, himself unable to repress a smile. “If you’re not gruff in your heart, it won’t matter much what you look like. Just look gruff, an’ keep your mouth shut, and they’ll soon let you alone.”
Acting61 on this advice, John Gunter returned to his mates looking gruffer, if possible, and more taciturn than ever, but radically62 changed, from that hour, in soul and spirit.
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1
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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2
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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6
smacks
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| 掌掴（声）( smack的名词复数 )； 海洛因； （打的）一拳； 打巴掌 | |
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smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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10
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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13
mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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14
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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larky
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| adj.爱闹玩的 | |
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illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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baboon
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| n.狒狒 | |
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psalms
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| n.赞美诗( psalm的名词复数 )；圣诗；圣歌；(中的) | |
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depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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bartering
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| v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的现在分词 ) | |
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accounting
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| n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表 | |
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metaphorically
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| adv. 用比喻地 | |
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coppers
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| 铜( copper的名词复数 )； 铜币 | |
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twine
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| v.搓，织，编饰；（使）缠绕 | |
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crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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40
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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42
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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43
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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44
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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45
waggish
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| adj.诙谐的，滑稽的 | |
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46
taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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48
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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49
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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50
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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51
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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52
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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53
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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54
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
cleansed
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| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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mightier
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| adj. 强有力的，强大的，巨大的 adv. 很，极其 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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61
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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62
radically
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| ad.根本地，本质地 | |
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