a firm of that name."

"Impossible! you must be laughing at me. Here is a letter from our
captain to his son--"

"Give it me," cried Philip, seizing the letter. He was about to break
the seal, when Schriften snatched it out of his hand and threw it over
the lee gunnel.

"That's a scurvy trick for an old shipmate," observed the seaman.
Schriften made no reply, but catching up the other letters which Philip
had laid down on the capstan, he hurled them after the first.

The strange seaman shed tears, and walked again to the side. "It is
very hard--very unkind," observed he, as he descended; "the time may
come when you may wish that your family should know your situation." So
saying, he disappeared. In a few seconds was heard the sound of the
oars retreating from the ship.

"Holy St. Antonio!" exclaimed the captain. "I am lost in wonder and
fright. Steward, bring me up the arrack."

The steward ran down for the bottle; being as much alarmed as his
captain, he helped himself before he brought it up to his commander.
"Now," said the captain, after keeping his mouth for two minutes to the
bottle, and draining it to the bottom, "what is to be done next?"

"I'll tell you," said Schriften, going up to him: "that man there has a
charm hung round his neck; take it from him and throw it overboard, and
your ship will be saved; if not, it will be lost, with every soul on
board."

"Yes yes, it's all right, depend upon it," cried the sailors.

"Fools," replied Philip, "do you believe that wretch? Did you not hear
the man who came on board recognise him, and call him shipmate? He is
the party whose presence on board will prove so unfortunate."

"Yes, yes," cried the sailors, "it's all right; the man did call him
shipmate."

"I tell you it's all wrong," cried Schriften; "that is the man: let him
give up the charm."

"Yes, yes; let him give up the charm," cried the sailors; and they
rushed upon Philip.

Philip started back to where the captain stood. "Madmen, know ye what
ye are about? It is the holy cross that I wear round my neck. Throw it
overboard if you dare, and your souls are lost for ever;" and Philip
took the relic from his bosom and showed it to the captain.

"No, no, men;" exclaimed the captain, who was now more settled in his
nerves; "that won't do--the saints protect us."

The seamen, however, became clamorous; one portion were for throwing
Schriften overboard, the other for throwing Philip; at l