ng impulse. In doing so, the clank of his chains echoed
harshly through the cell. This seemed to change the current of his
thoughts, for he again covered his face with both hands and began to
mutter to himself.

"Ay," said he, "it has come at last. How often I have dreamed of this
when I was free and roaming over the wide ocean. I would say that I
have been a fool did I not feel that I have more cause to bow my head
and confess that I am a sinner. Ah! what a thing pride is. How little
do men know what it has cost me to humble myself before them as I have
done; yet I feel no shame in confessing it here, when I am all alone.
Alone! am I alone?"

For a long time Gascoyne sat in deep silence as if he were following out
the train of thought which had been suggested by the last words.
Presently his ideas again found vent in muttered speech.

"In my pride I have said that there is no God. I don't think I ever
believed that; but I tried to believe it, for I knew that my deeds were
evil. Surely my own words will condemn me, for I have said that I think
myself a fool, and does not the Bible say that `the fool hath said in
his heart there is no God?' Ay, I remember it well. The words were
printed in my brain when I learnt the Psalms of David at my mother's
knee, long, long ago. My mother! what bitter years have passed since
that day! How little did ye dream, mother, that your child would come
to _this_. God help me!"

The pirate relapsed into silence, and a low groan escaped him. But his
thoughts seemed too powerful to be restrained within his breast, for
they soon broke forth again in words.

"Your two texts have come true, pastor Mason. You did not mean them for
me, but _they were sent_ to me. `There is no rest, saith my God, to the
wicked.' No rest! I have not known rest since I was a boy. `Be sure
your sin shall find you out.' I laughed at these words once; they laugh
at _me_ now. I have found them out to be true--and found it out too
late. Too late! _Is_ it too late? If these words be true, are not all
the words of God equally true? `The blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from _all_ sin.' That was what you said, pastor Mason, on
that Sunday morning when the savages were stealing down on us. It gave
me comfort then, but, ah me! it seems to give me no comfort now. Oh!
that I had resisted the tempter when he _first_ came to me! Strange! I
often heard this said long, long ago; but I laug