ead on, to the world without end, evermore, amen,
and when found making a note of. Them's the times, my beauty, when a man
may say to his messmate (previously a overhauling of the wollume), "A
stiff nor'wester's blowing, Bill; hark, don't you hear it roar now! Lord
help 'em, how I pitys all unhappy folks ashore now!"' Which quotation,
as particularly applicable to the terrors of the ocean, the Captain
delivered in a most impressive manner, concluding with a sonorous 'Stand
by!'

'Were you ever in a dreadful storm?' asked Florence.

'Why ay, my lady lass, I've seen my share of bad weather,' said the
Captain, tremulously wiping his head, 'and I've had my share of knocking
about; but--but it ain't of myself as I was a meaning to speak. Our dear
boy,' drawing closer to her, 'Wal'r, darling, as was drownded.'

The Captain spoke in such a trembling voice, and looked at Florence with
a face so pale and agitated, that she clung to his hand in affright.

'Your face is changed,' cried Florence. 'You are altered in a moment.
What is it? Dear Captain Cuttle, it turns me cold to see you!'

'What! Lady lass,' returned the Captain, supporting her with his hand,
'don't be took aback. No, no! All's well, all's well, my dear. As I was
a saying--Wal'r--he's--he's drownded. Ain't he?'

Florence looked at him intently; her colour came and went; and she laid
her hand upon her breast.

'There's perils and dangers on the deep, my beauty,' said the Captain;
'and over many a brave ship, and many and many a bould heart, the secret
waters has closed up, and never told no tales. But there's escapes upon
the deep, too, and sometimes one man out of a score,--ah! maybe out of
a hundred, pretty,--has been saved by the mercy of God, and come home
after being given over for dead, and told of all hands lost. I--I know
a story, Heart's Delight,' stammered the Captain, 'o' this natur, as
was told to me once; and being on this here tack, and you and me sitting
alone by the fire, maybe you'd like to hear me tell it. Would you,
deary?'

Florence, trembling with an agitation which she could not control or
understand, involuntarily followed his glance, which went behind her
into the shop, where a lamp was burning. The instant that she turned her
head, the Captain sprung out of his chair, and interposed his hand.

'There's nothing there, my beauty,' said the Captain. 'Don't look
there.'

'Why not?' asked Florence.

The Captain murmured something abou