d in English, as she saw
Channing walking on, "And you, sir, in Heaven's name, do not leave me! I
am an Englishwoman."

In an instant Channing turned, and quick as lightning the Frenchman,
whose face was dark with passion, barred his way--"Monsieur, as an
honourable man, will not attempt to speak to my wife when I request him
not to do so."

"And I beg of you, sir, as my fellow-countryman, not to desert me. I am
indeed an Englishwoman. My father's ship was captured, plundered, and
then sunk by a French privateer, within sight of Malacca. Both he and
my mother are dead, and I was forced to marry that man there," and she
pointed scornfully through her tears to Le Mescam. "His captain, who I
thought had some honour, promised to set me ashore at Manila, but when
we reached there I was kept on board, and, ill and scarce able to speak,
was married to Lieutenant Le Mescam, against my will, by a Spanish
priest. Oh, sir, for the sake of my father, who was an English sailor,
help me!"

Channing sprang towards her. "Madam, I am an Englishman, and there is
a King's ship not four miles away. You, sir"--and he turned to the
Frenchman, whose handsome face was now distorted with passion--"shall
answer for your cowardly conduct, or I very much mistake the character
of the gallant officer under whom I have the honour to serve. Ha!" And
with sudden fury he seized Le Mescam's right arm, the hand of which had
grasped a pistol in the bosom of his coat. "You cowardly, treacherous
hound!" and wrenching the weapon from his grasp, he struck the Frenchman
in the face with it, and sent him spinning backward upon the sand, where
he lay apparently stunned.

Then Charming turned to the woman, who, trembling in every limb, was
leaning against the side of the house. "Madam, I shall return to the
ship at once. Will you come with me now, or shall I go on first? That
our captain will send a boat for you within an hour you may rely on. He
will take quick action in such a matter as this. If you fear to remain
alone, I shall with pleasure escort you on board now."

"No, no," she pleaded; "he," and she pointed to the prone figure of the
Frenchman, "would never hurt me; and I cannot leave him like this--I
cannot forget that, wicked and cruel as he has been to me, he is the
father of my child. Return, sir, I pray you, to your ship, and if you
can help me to escape from my unhappy position, do so. Were it not
for the money that my husband is employed in ge