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 



