"Being in ignorance perhaps of his deserts,
deeming him a saint and martyr, they resolved to avenge him upon you,
and dragged you hither for that purpose." He sighed. "Well, well, Master
Leigh, I make no doubt that knowing yourself for a rascal you have all
your life been preparing your neck for a noose; so this will come as no
surprise to you."

The skipper stirred uneasily, and groaned. "Lord, how my head aches!" he
complained.

"They've a sure remedy for that," Sir Oliver comforted him. "And you'll
swing in better company than you deserve, for I am to be hanged in the
morn-ing too. You've earned it as fully as have I, Master Leigh. Yet I
am sorry for you--sorry you should suffer where I had not so intended."

Master Leigh sucked in a shuddering breath, and was silent for a while.

Then he repeated an earlier question.

"Do you believe in God, Sir Oliver?"

"There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his Prophet," was the answer,
and from his tone Master Leigh could not be sure that he did not mock.

"That's a heathen creed," said he in fear and loathing.

"Nay, now; it's a creed by which men live. They perform as they preach,
which is more than can be said of any Christians I have ever met."

"How can you talk so upon the eve of death?" cried Leigh in protest.

"Faith," said Sir Oliver, "it's considered the season of truth above all
others."

"Then ye don't believe in God?"

"On the contrary, I do."

"But not in the real God?" the skipper insisted.

"There can be no God but the real God--it matters little what men call
Him."

"Then if ye believe, are ye not afraid?"

"Of what?"

"Of hell, damnation, and eternal fire," roared the skipper, voicing his
own belated terrors.

"I have but fulfilled the destiny which in His Omniscience He marked out
for me," replied Sir Oliver. "My life hath been as He designed it, since
naught may exist or happen save by His Will. Shall I then fear damnation
for having been as God fashioned me?"

"'Tis the heathen Muslim creed!" Master Leigh protested.

"'Tis a comforting one," said Sir Oliver, "and it should comfort such a
sinner as thou."

But Master Leigh refused to be comforted. "Oh!" he groaned miserably. "I
would that I did not believe in God!"

"Your disbelief could no more abolish Him than can your fear create
Him," replied Sir Oliver. "But your mood being what it is, were it not
best you prayed?"

"Will not you pray with me?" quoth that rascal in his su