l Son. And when she came to the words, "For
this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is
found"--when she had come to this place, my father, who had sat and
listened hitherto, cried out in a harsh voice--

"Stop, woman!"

And he took the Bible from her and turned over the leaves till he was
at the book of Ezekiel, and read the chapter in order as usual.

Nevertheless in the night my mother, who lay awake weeping, heard him
give more than one sigh; and presently, while it was still dark, he
rose up and went out of the room and downstairs, and stayed away above
an hour; after which he came back and lay down again. And he strictly
forbade her ever to utter my name in his hearing from that time.

* * * * *

I lay in hiding above a week before I durst venture abroad except at
night. And very soothing to my spirit those night rambles were, though
melancholy; for the look of all things was so changed and solemn under
the black sky, or in the silent radiance of the moon, the houses were
so oppressively still, and the masts of the ships so spectral upon the
water, that it seemed to me by the end of those few days, that I had
been exploring another world, and had got at last to be familiar with
its ways.

In the daytime I was safe enough in my snug quarters in the tavern,
for not a soul knew I was there save the privateer's crew. And to do
those ruffians justice, though there were few other crimes they stuck
at, I believe that a thousand pounds would not have tempted one of
them to give me up after I had been duly embodied in their company.
Indeed, I found some of them to be good fellows enough, and grew not
to dislike old Muzzy, the boatswain--for so he was called, though I
know not if it was his proper name or one bestowed upon him by his
mates. He was, if I mistake not, a foundling. He had conceived a huge
friendship for me, and would come upstairs to the garret where I was
secluded, and give me lessons in the broadsword exercise by the hour,
the knowledge of which stood me in good stead in not very long.

But practise how I might, I never reached that perfection which the
boatswain had attained, who was, I do think, the most complete master
of his weapon then alive. I have heard, not from his mouth only, but
from others of the crew, of the duel which he fought with three
Frenchmen together, at a time of peace between the countries, in
Civita Vecchia, and how he left them