nd saw the captain wistfully watching the
glowing sea.

Without hesitation I went to him, and began my story.

CHAPTER XVI

AFTER LONG YEARS

"I wish to say a few words to you, captain."

"Say on, Tretheway."

"I have never told you the history of my life, now I wish to do so."

He nodded his head as if ready to listen. Accordingly I began, and
related in some detail the story of my life. He listened attentively;
evidently, he was interested. Step by step he followed my narrative,
until I came to the previous evening. Then as I told him of the dream
and the call I had heard, his face became pale as death, and he
clenched his hand nervously.

"It is the voice of God, or of the mother of God. You must go,
Tretheway," he said.

"Yes, I feel I must, and that soon," I replied. "But how?"

"Last night I told you that I was tired of this life," he said. "This
morning I feel I must leave it. I have been a wild, lawless fellow,
Tretheway; but I have been more sinned against than sinning, and I want
to go home, where, by gifts to the Church, prayers, and penances I
shall surely receive forgiveness."

For an hour we talked together.

It was all settled at length. The vessel should sail under his
direction with all speed to the coast of France, where we were to make
over the whole cargo and ship to the crew, and then leave it for ever.
Accordingly we altered the course of the vessel, and after a few days'
fast sailing reached the desired position. Then the captain called the
crew together and appointed officers to command, ordered a boat and
provisions to be lowered, and told them he meant to leave them for ever.

At first the men demurred, they could never agree under another captain
they declared, but when Salambo (the captain) told them that the vessel
and all its belongings were theirs, and that he should make no claim
upon it, they became pacified.

We were now a few miles from land, at the nearest point between France
and Spain, and we could see the lights of St. Sebastian in the
distance. It wanted but an hour to daybreak, and we wished, if
possible, to land without attracting any attention. To me this seemed
almost impossible; but the captain was confident, so I trusted him.

We left the pirate vessel at length, I feeling a great load lifted off
my mind. All the time I had been with the crew I had seemed to breathe
foul atmosphere, and when I was once rid of them a new life opened
befo