uments at my command. After a time I went on deck, and finding
the surgeon walking by himself, I went up to him and told him what I
thought.

"Very sensible, youngster. Some soothing draught is what he wants.
I'll get him to take it," he answered. "Your relative, let me tell you,
had a narrow escape. Did he show you where the bullet grazed his head
and took off the hair?"

"No, indeed. I did not know even that Captain Staghorn had fired," said
I.

"Ay, but he did though, and he aimed at your cousin's brain," said the
surgeon. "Mr Sandford tells me that, as he looked at his antagonist's
evil eye, he never expected to hear the captain speak again. He's
unhappy now, and shocked; very natural for a man of fine feeling; but
he'll get over it, don't be afraid."

"Then the wretched man took the advice of his evil counsellor, and
resolved to kill my poor cousin," I thought to myself. I was afraid,
however, that the fact would be no comfort to him, but would rather
aggravate his suffering when he thought that the last feeling which had
animated the bosom of the man who had been so suddenly sent to his dread
account was that of bitter animosity and revenge. I instinctively felt
this, and so, when I returned to the cabin before leaving the ship, I
refrained from touching on the subject. I did not know at the time, nor
did anyone else on board, I am afraid, in a position to speak to him,
where alone he could seek for comfort and consolation in his
wretchedness, for wretched he was, and almost hopeless.

However, I must not longer dwell on the subject. I returned to the
Doris, but I got leave on most days to visit my cousin. I did not see
any great change in him for the better. An enquiry took place with
regard to the duel, but the evidence in his favour was so strong, and
Captain Staghorn's character was so notorious, that he was acquitted of
all blame in the matter. I was truly glad to find that we and the Pearl
were to sail together and cruise in company for some time, in search of
some of the enemy's privateers, which had been committing havoc among
our merchantmen. The day before we sailed we received a visit from old
Colonel Pinchard, and we invited him down to dinner. He seemed in high
feather, having got as many pupils as he could manage to instruct in
French, and, moreover, as he told us, he had hopes that he had softened
the heart of a Creole lady, who, though somewhat weighty herself, was
outweighed