thrown to him, in which he speedily
equipped himself, being indeed in no slight degree relieved by the
change. Since that time he had kept himself as much aloof as possible
from the crew, anxiously and fearfully expectant of some sudden
catastrophe, either that his brains would be blown out without
affording him an opportunity to expostulate, or that he would be
called upon to walk the plank.

He was roused by a heavy hand laid upon his shoulder.

"O dear, don't," cried John.

"The captain has sent word for'ard arter you, and faith ye had betther
be in a hurry, for he's a savage when he's mad."

"O! now I've got to do it."

"Do what?"

"Why walk the plank to be sure."

"Arrah, jewel! don't be onaisy now."

"Wont I's, don't you think?"

"Not a bit of it, darling. I think he will be afther running you up to
the yard-arm."

"But I can't run up it."

"Ha! ha! but come along, honey."

Half dragging John after him, the sailor led him to the quarter-deck.

"Here's the lady, captain, an' faith she's a swate one."

The truth of the case had already been explained to the pirate.

"You cowardly fool," said he, "did you expect to escape by such a
subterfuge? Pat, run him up to the yard-arm."

"Yes, captain, and that will be a relaif to him, for he was mighty
afraid he'd have to walk the plank."

"He was? well then he shall."

The vindictiveness of the pirate commander, who had only changed the
mode of John's death because he thought that by so doing he should
render it more fearful and bitter to the victim, was the means of
saving the poor cockney's life. So do revenge and malice often
overreach themselves.

A long plank was laid out over the side of the brig and John commanded
to walk out on it. He showed a strong disinclination to obeying, but a
huge pistol placed against his forehead quickly influenced his
decision, and with a cry of anguish he stepped out upon it. As the
board tipped he turned to spring back to the brig, but slipping up,
fell upon the board, which he pulled after him into the water.

"Fool," cried the captain to one of his men, "what did you let the
board loose for, he will float now till the chase picks him up--fire
into him."

A dozen balls were fired at John, and it seems he was hit, for he let
go the board and sunk.

"There, captain, he's done for."

The brig by this time had reached a considerable distance from the
place where John had been committed to the deep, and when he