e realization of my dream
of vengeance. When I have completed this document I will place it in a
bottle, which I shall carefully cork and seal and cast into the sea
through my cabin porthole. I am sorry for the many who must suffer
because of the sins of one; but that one must perish, and immediately,
in which hope, craving that, when this paper is found it may be
transmitted to the authorities at home, so that the fate of my bitter
enemy may be known, I subscribe myself,

"ISRAEL THOMAS WILKINSON,
"Ex-Convict and Ticket-of-Leave Man."

THE GREAT TRIANGULAR DUEL

By CAPTAIN FREDERICK MARRYAT

Jack walked up to the boatswain, and, taking off his hat, with the
utmost politeness, said to him:

"If I mistake not, Mr. Biggs, your conversation refers to me."

"Very likely it does," replied the boatswain. "Listeners hear no good
of themselves."

"It happears that gentlemen can't converse without being vatched,"
continued Mr. Easthupp, pulling up his shirt-collar.

"It is not the first time you have thought proper to make very
offensive remarks, Mr. Biggs; and as you appear to consider yourself
ill-treated in the affair of the trousers, for I tell you at once that
it was I who brought them on board, I can only say," continued our
hero, with a very polite bow, "that I shall be most happy to give you
satisfaction."

"I am your superior officer, Mr. Easy," replied the boatswain.

"Yes, by the rules of the service; but you just now asserted that you
would waive your rank: indeed, I dispute it on this occasion; I am on
the quarter-deck, and you are not."

"This is the gentleman whom you have insulted, Mr. Easy," replied the
boatswain, pointing to the purser's Steward.

"Yes, Mr. Heasy, quite as good a gentleman as yourself, although I 'ave
'ad misfortunes. I ham of as hold a family as hany in the country,"
replied Mr. Easthupp, now backed by the boatswain. "Many the year did
I valk Bond Street, and I 'ave as good blood in my weins as you, Mr.
Heasy, although I 'ave been misfortunate. I've had hadmirals in my
family."

"You have grossly insulted this gentleman," said Mr. Biggs, in
continuation; "and, notwithstanding all your talk of equality, you are
afraid to give him satisfaction; you shelter yourself under your
quarter-deck."

"Mr. Biggs," replied our hero, who was now very wroth, "I shall go on
shore directly we arrive at Malta. Let you, and this fellow, put on
plain clothes, and I will meet y