remained prostrate on the deck.

"It is my duty to inform you, sir, that but five minutes are left of
the time awarded to you," said Sir Robert to Vanslyperken.

"Five minutes!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, jumping up from the deck, "but
five minutes--to die in five minutes," continued he, looking up with
horror at the rope at the yard-arm, and the fatal noose at the end of
it, held in the hand of Corporal Van Spitter. "Stop, I have gold--plenty
of gold--I can purchase my life."

"Kingdoms would not purchase it," said Sir Robert, scornfully.

"Oh!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, wringing his hands, "must I leave all my
gold?"

"You have but two minutes, sir," observed Sir Robert. "Let the rope be
put round his neck."

This office was performed by Corporal Van Spitter. The corporal was
quite an amateur.

"Mercy, mercy," cried Vanslyperken, again falling on his knees, and
holding up his hands.

"Call upon Heaven for mercy, you have but one minute left."

But here an interruption took place.

A female made her appearance on the other side of the deck, dragging, by
a cord, the hero of our novel, Snarleyyow, who held back with all his
power, jerking his head to the right and to the left, but it was of no
use, he was dragged opposite to where Vanslyperken knelt. As the reader
may guess, this person was Smallbones, who had tied on a bonnet, and
muffled up his face, so as not to be observed when he first went on
board. Jemmy Ducks now assisted, and the whip on the larboard yard-arm
was made fast to a cord with a running noose, for the hanging of
the cur.

The sight roused Vanslyperken. "My dog!" exclaimed he, "woman, leave
that dog alone--who are you that dare touch my dog?"

The female turned round, threw off her bonnet and handkerchief and
exhibited to the terrified lieutenant, the face of the supposed departed
Smallbones.

"Smallbones!" exclaimed the crew of the _Yungfrau_ in a breath.

"God of mercy--help me, God of mercy!" cried Vanslyperken, aghast.

"I suppose that you do come for to go to know me now, anyhow," said
Smallbones.

"Hath the sea given up its dead?" replied Vanslyperken, in a hollow
voice.

"No, it arn't, 'cause why? I never was a drowned," replied Smallbones;
"no thanks to you, though; but if so be as I supposes, you be a going to
be hung--as I'm a good Christian, I'll forgive you--that is, if you be
hung, you know."

Vanslyperken, who now perceived that Smallbones had been by some miracle
pre