een kind to Eva; and on
that account I almost forgot that he was a pirate, and looked upon him
as a friend. Had he been even my enemy, at that moment I would not have
deserted him. The tin case I entrusted to Prior, and begged him to give
it me when we returned on board; and I then sat myself down by the side
of the pirate. He intimated that he could talk, and listen to me better
alone.

"I shall not keep you long, sir," he observed. "As the sun sets, my
spirit too will take its flight. Alas, to what region must it be bound!
Oh, who would commit sin, if they remembered what anguish they were
preparing for themselves at their last moments!"

Thinking that some medicine might be of use to him, I proposed carrying
him on board but he entreated to be left where he was.

"I am not afraid that you would betray me," he said, with a ghastly
smile; "I wish that the gibbet could make atonement for my sins, or that
the gold I have robbed could buy masses for my soul, as the cunning
priests of Rome tell their dupes it would do, but it is of no use. I
shall not live to see another day; and if I can be saved, it must be
through the unspeakable mercy of the great Saviour, of whom you are
telling me."

Still believing that he might live longer than he supposed, I begged my
friends to return on board, as it wanted still two hours to sunset, and
to bring some food and medicine, while I remained with the unhappy man.
As there could be no risk in my being left alone, from the island being
uninhabited, they yielded to my request, and immediately set off down
the hill to rejoin the boat.

It was a lovely evening. The cavern wherein I sat, by the side of the
dying pirate, looked towards the west. Above our head and round us were
the dark rocks; below, a mass of the rich and varied foliage of the
tropics, between which was seen a strip of yellow sand and a line of
coral reefs; and beyond, the calm blue sea, on which the sun was shining
in full radiance from the unclouded sky. At a little distance off was
my little schooner, with her sails idly flapping against the masts, now
lying perfectly becalmed. There I sat, and humbly strove to show the
dying pirate the way to seek forgiveness of his God.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

As I sat in the cavern by the side of the dying pirate, his voice grew
fainter and fainter, and his strength was evidently ebbing fast away. I
observed that while he was speaking, his hand grasped a letter, w