f) "wrong and hardship, cruelty and
suffering do not debase all men, as witness the brave Frenchman that
was whipped to death beside me in the 'Esmeralda' galleass. Wrong and
suffering either lift a man to greatness, or debase him to the very
brute! She had said as much to me once. And she was right" (thinks I)
"for the Frenchman had died the noble gentleman he was born, whiles I,
as well-born as he and suffering no greater wrong than he, according to
his own account, I had sullied myself with all the vileness and filth
of slavedom, had fought and rioted with the worst of them!" And now
remembering the shame of it all, I sat me down in the shade of a tree
and fell to gloomy and sad reflection, grieving sorely over things long
past and forgotten until now, and very full of remorse and scorn of
myself.

"Howbeit" (thinks I) "if rogue and brute I am" (which is beyond all
doubt) "I will keep such for my own kind and she shall know nought of
it!" And here, getting upon my knees I took a great and solemn oath to
this effect, viz., "Never by look, or word, or gesture to give her
cause for shame or fear so long as we should abide together in this
solitude so aid me God!" This done I arose from my knees and betook me
to culling flowers, great silver lilies and others of divers hues,
being minded to lay them on the threshold of her door to greet her when
she should arise. With these in my arms I recrossed the brook and
stepping out from a thicket came full upon her ere she was aware; and
seeing her so suddenly I stood like any fool, my poor flowers hidden
behind me. She had taken up one of my misshapen pots and was patting it
softly as she viewed it, and a little smile on her red lips. All at
once she turned and, spying me, came towards me all smiling, fresh and
radiant as the morning.

"O Martin," says she, turning the pot this way and that, "O Martin,
'tis wonderful--"

"'Tis an abomination!" quoth I.

"And 'twill hold water!"

"'Tis like an ill dream!" says I.

"And so strong, Martin."

"True, 'tis the only merit the things possess, they are like
stone--watch now!" And here, to prove my words, I let one drop, though
indeed I chose a soft place for it.

"And they will be so easy to carry with these handles, and--why, what
have you there?" Saying which she sets down the pot, gently as it had
been an egg-shell, and comes to me; whereupon I showed her my posy, and
I more fool-like than ever.

"I chanced to--se