ared
too much? Had I ventured too far? I knew not, yet spoke my next words
boldly, realizing that any retreat now would be impossible.

"Thou knowest little of men at such a moment; even careless hearts
learn fear of God as they face the end. Holy Mother! but 't would even
pale your black face, and put a stopper on that ribald tongue, were
grim Death stalking at your very heels. You may smile now, making
reckless mock of the sacraments, but that hour will come when you will
be as a child at the knee of Mother Church. Ay, I was with the
Chevalier to-day; 'twas the coming of that negro huckster which took me
from his side before, and I seek now to complete the gracious work
which then had well begun. Surely thou wilt not stand between a dying
man and his last confession!"

"Nay; not I. Let the poor devil have his chance, as may the good Lord
grant me mine. But, _padre_, I have only just returned from my last
round among the prisoners, and am greatly wearied, nor will I journey
that way again with you. In truth, 'tis all I can well do to guide my
own footsteps, without helping along a priest of thy weight. So here,
_padre_, take the key, and, mind ye, have it safely back in my hands
before the ship's bell soundeth the half hour."

Hastily snatching the bit of iron he flung rattling on the deck at my
feet, I paused merely long enough to favor the company with parting
admonition on their probable future. Then, glad enough to be thus
easily rid of them, I lurched heavily forward into the narrow
passageway. Some coarse joke launched at my expense attracted the
attention of those behindhand speeded me onward.

My heart throbbed in anxious anticipation of what unknown trial was at
hand. Such rare fortune as had thus far attended my efforts, seemed
too remarkable to endure; nor was it impossible that, through some
unforeseen mischance, the cup of success might yet be stricken from my
very lips. So far at least I had made no mistake; evidently this Pere
Cassati was "hail fellow, well met" among these riotous guards aboard
the "Santa Maria," and I had played the part to their complete undoing.
But now I was facing a new experience, and stiffened myself to meet it
boldly, uncertain still what trick fate might have in store.

The sentinel, whom I discovered facing forward, hardly more than two
paces from that door having the figures "18" painted upon it, quickly
lowered his gun as I lurched unsteadily into sight.