on the vessel and take to the
boats; a husband, in his hurry, might forget his wife, but he would not
forget his diamonds. If I wore the belt, you would be certain to put me
in the boat.'

"`That observation of yours would have force with some husbands, and
some wives,' retorted your father; `but as I have a firm belief in the
Scriptures, it does not affect me. What do the Proverbs say? "The
price of a virtuous woman is far above rubies;" and a good ruby is worth
even more in the market than a diamond of the same size.'

"`Well, I must comfort myself with that idea,' replied your mother,
laughing.

"`Supposing we be thrown upon some out-of-the-way place,' said your
father, `I shall then commit the belt to your charge. It might soon be
discovered on my person, whereas, on yours, it would stand every chance
of being long concealed. I say this because, even in a desert, it would
be dangerous to have it known by unscrupulous and unprincipled men that
any one had so much wealth about him.'

"`Well,' replied your mother, `that is also comfortable for me to hear,
for you will not leave me behind, because I shall be necessary to
conceal your treasure.'

"`Yes,' replied your father, laughing, `there is another chance for you,
you see.'

"Your father then extinguished the light, and the conversation was not
renewed; but I had heard enough. Your father carried a great treasure
about his person--wealth, I took it for granted, that if I once could
obtain, and return to England, would save me from my present position.
My avarice was hereby excited, and thus another passion equally
powerful, and equally inciting to evil deeds, was added to the hate
which I already had imbibed for your father. But I must leave off now."

Jackson drank a little more, and then remained quiet, and as I had no
food that day, I took the opportunity of returning to the cabin, with
the promise that I would be back very soon. In half an hour I returned,
bringing with me the Bible and Prayer-book, as I thought that he would
ask me to read to him after he had made his confession. I found him
breathing heavily, and apparently asleep, so I did not wake him. As I
looked at him, and recalled to mind his words, "Am not I an object of
pity?" I confessed that he was, and then I asked myself the question,
Can you forgive him who was the murderer of your father? After some
reflection, I thought that I could. Was he not already punished? Had
not the