h were made for us all, and it never was
intended that one man should have a superfluity and another starve. The
laws of equality--"

"May appear very good arguments to a starving man, I grant, but still,
won't prevent his fellow creatures from hanging him," replied Gascoigne.
"None of your confounded nonsense, Jack; no man starves with money in
his pocket, and as long as you have that, leave those that have none to
talk about equality and the rights of man."

"I should like to argue that point with you, Gascoigne."

"Tell me, do you prefer sitting down here to argue, or to look out for
some breakfast, Jack?"

"Oh, the argument may be put off, but hunger cannot."

"That's very good philosophy, Jack, so let's go on."

They went through the copse of wood, which was very thick, and soon
discovered the wall of a large house on the other side.

"All right," said Jack; "but still let us reconnoitre. It's not a
farm-house; it must belong to a person of some consequence--all the
better--they will see that we are gentlemen, notwithstanding our
tattered dress. I suppose we are to stick to the story of the sea-mews
at Gozo?"

"Yes," replied Gascoigne; "I can think of nothing better. But the
English are well received in this island; we have troops at Palermo."

"Have we? I wish I was sitting down at the mess-table--but what's that?
a woman screaming?--Yes, by heavens!--come along, Ned." And away dashed
Jack towards the house, followed by Gascoigne. As they advanced the
screams redoubled; they entered the porch, burst into the room from
whence they proceeded, and found an elderly gentleman defending himself
against two young men, who were held back by an elderly and a young
lady. Our hero and his comrade had both drawn their pistols, and just
as they burst open the door, the old gentleman who defended himself
against such odds had fallen down. The two others burst from the women,
and were about to pierce him with their swords, when Jack seized one by
the collar of his coat and held him fast, pointing the muzzle of the
pistol to his ear: Gascoigne did the same to the other. It was a very
dramatic tableau. The two women flew to the elderly gentleman and
raised him up; the two assailants being held just as dogs hold pigs by
the ear, trembling with fright, with the points of their rapiers
dropped, looked at the midshipmen and the muzzles of their pistols with
equal dismay; at the same time, the astonishment of the e