y dog?"

The female turned round, threw off her bonnet and handkerchief, and
exhibited to the terrified lieutenant the face of the supposed departed
Smallbones.

"Smallbones!" exclaimed the crew of the Yungfrau in a breath.

"God of mercy--help me, God of mercy!" cried Vanslyperken, aghast.

"I suppose that you do come for to go to know me now, any how," said
Smallbones.

"Hath the sea given up its dead?" replied Vanslyperken, in a hollow
voice.

"No, it ar'n't, 'cause why? I never was a-drowned," replied Smallbones;
"no thanks to you, though; but if so be as I supposes, you be a-going to
be hung--as I'm a good Christian, I'll forgive you--that is, if you be
hung, you know."

Vanslyperken, who now perceived that Smallbones had been by some miracle
preserved, recovered himself.

"If you forgive me," replied Vanslyperken, "then pray do not ill-treat
my dog."

"I'se not forgiven him, any how--I owes him enough, and now I'll have
his account settled by gum. When you goes up there, he goes up here, as
sure as I am Philip Smallbones."

"Be merciful!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, who strange to say, forgot his
own miseries in pleading for his darling cur.

"He be a convicted traitor, and he shall die by gum!" cried Smallbones,
smacking his fist into the palm of his hand.

During the conversation, the time allotted to Vanslyperken had long
expired, but the interest occasioned by it had inclined Sir Robert to
wait till it was over.

"Enough," cried Sir Robert. "Your time is too long expired. Commend
your soul to God--let the rope be manned."

"Now Jemmy, stand by to toddle forward," cried Smallbones.

"One moment--I ask but one moment," cried Vanslyperken, much agitated,
"only one moment, sir."

"For what?"

"To kiss my poor dog," replied Vanslyperken, bursting into tears.
Strange and almost ridiculous as was the appeal, there was a seriousness
and pathos in Vanslyperken's words and manner which affected those who
were present like a gleam of sunshine: this one feeling, which was
unalloyed with baser metal, shone upon the close of a worthless and
wicked life. Sir Robert nodded his head, and Vanslyperken walked with
his rope round his neck over to where the dog was held by Smallbones,
bent over the cur, and kissed it again and again.

"Enough," cried Sir Robert, "bring him back."

Corporal Van Spitter took hold of Vanslyperken by the arm, and dragged
him to the other side of the deck. The unfortunate wr