ain!

"Leonard, Leonard, I see all, remember all," he said, while a tear, a
man's tear, wet for a single moment his bronzed cheek.

"I am rejoiced, sir, to hear it, I am sure," said the other.

"But, Leonard, where is my brother, and why is it necessary to remove
these badges of shame by stealth? Tell me, where is Robert?"

"Alas, sir, you must remember that he never held a brother's regard for
you; it was that very thing which drove you from us when you were a wee
bit of a boy."

"True, true; but he must see the hand of Providence in all this, and I
know he will give me his hand, and we will forgive each other and forget
the past."

"Alas! sir, I always befriended you at home, when master Robert had set
both the old folk against you, and I would do so now; but as to him,
sir, I am sorry to say it, but he's a bad man, and he makes all those
who are with him bad men, and I have many a sad thing at heart that I
have been guilty of by following his orders, sir. No, no, master
Charles, take my advice, don't trust Robert,--make your escape, or you
will be hanged at the yard-arm of this very ship ere another twenty-four
hours have passed!"

"Is he capable of this?" asked the younger brother, in tones of
amazement.

"Nobody should know better than I, sir, and I tell you yes."

"My blood, then, shall not be upon his hands," said Charles, musing, "I
will escape. Come, good Leonard, relieve me of these shackles, and
quickly."

"Slowly, slowly, master Charles, we must be cautious, there are watchful
eyes on board the ship, and sentries who know their duty, so be wary."

The young commander seemed now to stand more erect, there was a freer
glance to his eye, his lips were more compressed and firm, he felt that
what had been to him heretofore an indelible stain, a stigma upon his
character, was now effaced; he was not only respectably born, but even
gently and highly so. His father was knighted by his king, his blood was
as pure and ancient as any in England. He could now take Helen
Huntington to his heart without shame; he could boldly plead a cause
that he had not before dared to utter; he could refer her to the dear
hours of their childhood, to the tender kiss she gave him when he left
that distant home to become a wanderer over half the globe!

He no longer felt the irons that Leonard Hust was filing away. He seemed
to feel a strength that would have snapped them like pack threap. He was
a man now, a free man, and