might well be; it was enough to make one turn pale. Still he came toward me on the quarter-deck. She stood leaning against the main-mast, following us with her eyes, as we walked up and down without a word. I lit a cigar, which I found bitter, and spit it out into the water. He watched my eye; I took him by the arm—I was choking—upon my word I was choking.
"'Come, come, now,' said I at length, 'my little friend, tell me something of your history. What the d have you done to those five hounds of lawyers, who are there like five pieces of a king. They seem to owe you a heavy grudge. It's very queer.'
"He shrugged his shoulders, bending his head down—with such a sweet smile, poor boy!—and said:
"'Oh! captain, nothing much, depend upon it. Three satirical verses upon the Directory, that is all.'
"'It is n't possible!' said I.
"'Oh, yes, indeed! and the verses were not even very good ones. I was arrested the 15th of Fructidor, and taken to La Force; tried on the 16th, and sentenced first to death, then, through clemency, to transportation.'
"That's queer,' said I; 'these Directors must be very susceptible fellows, for that letter you know of orders me to shoot you.'
"He did not answer, and smiled with a manly
