t to uplift it and strike, Daunton murmured out, "Ralph
Rattlin, I knew your father! beware, or your own blood will be
dishonoured in me!"

"That voice!--they shall flog you through me!" I exclaimed, and was
about to leap into the waist, and cover him with my arms, when I was
forcibly withheld by the officers around me; whilst the captain roared
out, "He shall have another dozen for his impudent falsehood--
boatswain's mate, do your duty."

The terrific lash, like angry scorpions, fell upon the white and
quivering flesh, and the blood spurted out freely. It was a vengeful
stroke; and loud, and long, and shrill was the scream that followed it.
But, ere the second stroke fell, the head of the tortured one suddenly
collapsed upon the right shoulder, and a livid hue spread rapidly over
the face and breast.

"He is dead!" said those around, in a half-hushed tone.

The surgeon felt his pulse, and placed his hand upon his breast to seek
for the beating of the heart, and shaking his head, requested him to be
cast loose. He was immediately taken to the sick-bay, but, with all the
skill of the doctor, his resuscitation was, at first, despaired of; and
only brought about, at length, with great difficulty. The fact was, not
that he had been flogged, but very nearly frightened, to death.

And I was utterly miserable. The words that Daunton had spoken at the
gangway, and the strange interest that I had taken in his behalf, gave
rise to suspicions that I felt to be degrading. He had declared himself
to be of my blood; the officers and crew construed the expression as
meaning my brother. I was now, for the first time, looked coldly upon;
I felt myself avoided. Such conduct is chilling--too often fatal to the
young and proud heart; it will rise indignant at an insult, but guarded
and polite contumely, and long and civil neglect, wither it. I was fast
sinking into an habitual despondency. This confounded Joshua had
previously completely ruined my outward man: the inward man was in great
danger from his conduct, perhaps his machinations. I was shunned with a
studied contempt; the more particularly as my messmates were the
subjects of the constant jibes of the captain and the other officers,
which messmates were of a unanimous opinion that Master Joshua ought to
have been hung, inasmuch as it is now apparent that their ruined apparel
was all derivable from his malice, and his "Practice of Chemistry made
Easy." They all pan