CHAPTER XIX.

CAPTAIN COFFIN'S LOG.

As she severed the string the roll fell open and disclosed itself as
a book of small quarto shape, bound in limp parchment, with strings
to tie the covers together. Its pages, measuring 9 and 3/4 by 8 in.,
were 64, and numbered throughout; but a bare third of them were
written on, and these in an unformed hand which yet was eloquent of
much. A paragraph would start with every letter drawn as carefully
as in a child's copy-book; would gradually straggle and let its words
fall about, as though fainting by the way; and so would tail into
incoherence, to be picked up--next day, no doubt--by a new effort,
which, after marching for half a dozen lines, in its turn collapsed.
There were lacunae, too, when the shaking hand had achieved but a few
weak zigzags before it desisted. The two last pages were scribbled
over with sums--or, to speak more correctly, with combinations of
figures resembling sums. Here is a single example--

Ode to W. Bate

To bacca 9 and 1/2d
Haircutt 1s
Bliddin[1] ...... 18d.
To more bacca Oct. 10th do.
Ditto and shave ditto ditto
-----------------
Mem. do. to him 2s. 6d.

The fly-leaf started bravely with "D. Coffin, His Book." After this
the captain had fallen to practising his signature by way of start.
"D. Coffin," "Danl. Coffin," "Danyel Coffin," over and over, and
once "D. Coffin, Esq.," followed by "Steal not this Book for fear of
shame."

Danl. Coffin is my name
England is my nation
Falmth ditto ditto dwelling-place
And hopes to see Salvation.

After these exercises came a blank page, and then, halfway down the
next, abruptly, without title, began the manuscript which I will call
Captain Coffin's statement.

"Pass it to Lydia," said Mr. Rogers. "She reads like a parson."

"Better than most, I hope," said Miss Belcher, taking the book; and
this--I omit the faults of spelling--is what she read aloud--

Mem. Began this August 15th, 1812.
Mem. Am going to tell about the treasure, and what happened. But it
will be no use without the map. If any one tries to bring up
trouble, this is the truth and nothing else. Amen. So be it.
Signed, D. Coffin.

My father followed the sea, and