THE EARLY LIFE OF E. J. PECK n 



of the band of men were emerging from the store- 

 room, their old enemy the corporal saw them, and 

 beckoned them to him. As they ranged up close 

 to his table, he said : " What in the name of fortune 

 do you do down there with the fellows ? They go 

 down devils and come up saints." The words 

 speak for themselves, and prove that God was mani- 

 fested in these humble but happy gatherings. 



The petty persecutions directed against these 

 men, who had banded themselves together for devo- 

 tion and spiritual edification, after a time became 

 so constant that they could find no cave of Adullam 

 as a permanent refuge. Accordingly they sum- 

 moned up courage enough to make an official appli- 

 cation for a spot where they might meet, " none 

 daring to make us afraid," and in response to their 

 appeal they were granted the use of one of the bath- 

 rooms. What precious times they spent there ; 

 how sweet their memory still ! One of these even- 

 ings stands out vividly to this day. The iron room 

 is about twelve feet by nine ; along three sides are 

 massive iron baths, surmounted by huge pipes, and 

 great glittering brass cocks. The deck under foot 

 is covered with three-inch wooden gratings, sodden 

 with water which, swayed with every motion of the 

 vessel, rushes up over the men's bare feet. There is a 

 general sense of cold, chill damp pervading the place, 

 but it does not damp or chill the ardour of the little 

 band of ten or a dozen sailors gathered there. The 



