ning ashore in New Zealand like a stag, Miss
Denning," I cried, getting up.

"Don't go yet," she said.

"I must," I cried. "I want to stop, but Mr Brymer uses me now as his
tongue and fists. I have to give all his orders to the men."

I went to where the mate was seated, received his orders, had them
executed, and then met Mr Frewen coming out of Walters' cabin.

"Oh, there you are, Dale," he cried. "Go in and talk to that poor
wretch for a few minutes. You must try and cheer him up, or he'll die,
as sure as I'm here."

"Oh, I say, don't tell me that," I cried. "I don't like him, and I
think he behaved horridly, but I don't want him to die."

I hurried into my messmate's cabin, and found him lying there so ghastly
and strange-looking that I shivered, and began to move on tip-toe.

"Come and sit down a minute, Dale," he said in a weak voice; and I at
once seated myself close to his bunk.

"Want some water?"

"No," he said sadly; "I want nothing now, only for you to promise me
something."

"What is it?"

"I can't write, but I want you to promise me when you get home to go to
my father and mother, and of course they'll know everything from the
papers; but I want you, my messmate, to tell them I was not quite such a
wretch as I seem to have been."

"Oh, never mind about that now," I said. "Get well, and go and tell
them yourself."

"No," he said calmly; "I shall not get well. I could see it in Mr
Frewen's eyes. I'm very glad now. If I got well, of course I should
have to be tried and punished, and be a convict. I should deserve it,
but the judge and lawyers would be very hard, and I don't want them to
try me."

"Oh, come, Walters, old chap," I cried in a choking voice, "don't take
it like that." And I caught his hand in mine, and felt him press it
feebly, as his face lit-up with a pleasant smile, which made him look
quite changed.

"Yes," he said, quite cheerfully, but almost in a whisper, "I must take
it like that now. Old Jarette aimed too well."

He lay looking straight out of the bright cabin-window; while I tried to
speak, but found no words would come. I knew that the wind had dropped
again, for the ship had grown steady once more; but I forgot all about
the approaching boats, and could only sit holding Walters' hand, and
watching his altered face.

"Yes," he said at last, "Jarette aimed too straight, Dale, old fellow,
it has all been a mistake. I was a weak, conceited fool, and th