on; and now our misfortunes seemed to have
come to an end. The young man I have spoken of belonging to the
pirate's crew, after this seemed to sink faster than ever. Mr Vernon,
in consideration of his condition, had him removed from the immediate
neighbourhood of the others, and placed within a screen in the
after-part of the hold. I then, at his request, went to visit him one
afternoon. He was sitting up, with the Bible on his knees, and his back
resting against the bulkhead, so that the light which came down the
hatchway-glanced on his forehead and the leaves of the sacred book. His
hair, which was of a light brown (almost auburn, it had probably been,
as a lad), was very long, and hung down on either side of his high,
smooth, and sunburnt brow. His dress was that of an ordinary seaman,
and when he was first captured it was perfectly neat and clean. I went
and sat down on a bucket by his side.

"I have asked to see you again, sir, for you are the best friend I have
found for many a year," he began, in a weak voice, speaking apparently
not without pain and difficulty. "From this book I have discovered, at
length, the cause of all my crimes, my sufferings, and ultimate doom.
Disobedience brought me to what I now am. I never learned to obey or to
fear God or man. I was born in the same rank of life in which you move,
perhaps with far greater expectations; and when I think of what I might
have been and what I am, it drives me to madness, and I wish that I had
never been born. My father was a man of property and position, and much
esteemed for many virtues. My mother was highly educated and refined,
and of religions feeling. It might be supposed that a child of such
parents could not but turn out well. Unhappily for me, they loved me
much, but not wisely. I was allowed to have my own way in all things, I
was never taught to obey. As I grew up, my self-willed disposition
became more and more developed. I could not bear constraint of any
sort. Too late they discovered their error. I had received at home
some little religious instruction; I even knew something about the
contents of the Bible, but its spirit was totally beyond my
comprehension. At last it was determined to send me to school. I went
willingly enough, for the sake of the change; but, not liking it, ran
away. I was not sent back, but instead a tutor was provided for me. He
was totally unfitted for his occupation, and was unable, had he tried