are gone and for ever. How often, and with what bitterness of spirit,
have I said, "Would that I had then died!" If there is mercy in
heaven--I say it with reverence--I feel assured that then to have passed
away, would have been but the closing of the eyes on earth to awaken
immediately in the lap of a blissful immortality. Since then the
world's foot has been upon my breast, and I have writhed under the
opprobrious weight; and, with sinful pride and self-trust, have, though
grovelling in the dust, returned scorn for scorn, and injury for
injury--even wrong for wrong.

I have been a sad dog, and that's the truth; but--

I have been forced to hunt, and to house, and to howl with dogs much
worse than myself; and that's equally true.

"Maintopmast-head there," squeaked out the very disagreeable treble of
Captain Reud, who had then come on deck, as I was trolling, "Shake off
dull sloth, and early rise."

"Mr Rattlin, what do you say?"

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Ay, ay, sir! what were you saying? How many sails are there in sight?"

"I can't make out, sir."

"Why not? Have you counted them?"

Now, as I before stated, I had taken off my hat, and was standing up in
a fit of natural devotion; and the captain, no doubt, thought that I was
bareheaded, and shading my eyes, the better to reckon the convoy. To
lie would have been so easy, and I was tempted to reply to the question,
that I had. But my better feelings predominated; so, at the risk of a
reprimand, I answered, "Not yet, sir."

At this moment Mr Silva, the lieutenant of the watch, placed the
mast-head look-outs, and sent the signal-man up to assist me in counting
the convoy; and, at the same time, the latter bore me a quiet message,
that when the number was ascertained I might come down.

I came on deck, and gave the report.

"I am very glad, Mr Rattlin," said the captain, approvingly, "to see
you so attentive to your duty. No doubt you went up of your own accord
to count the convoy?"

"Indeed, sir," said I, with a great deal of humility, "I did not."

"What--how? I thought when I came on deck I heard you singing out."

"I was mast-headed, sir."

"Mast-headed! How--for what?"

At this question, revenge, with her insidious breath, came whispering
her venom into my ear; but a voice, to the warnings of which I have too
seldom attended, seemed to reverberate in the recesses of my heart, and
say, "Be generous." If I had told the truth maliciously, I sh