ain and officers,
Peters turned to the ship's company who were assembled on the booms and
gangway, and addressed them as follows:--

"Shipmates, the time may come when our country shall be at peace, and
your services no longer be required. Then, when you narrate to your
children the events of this unhappy mutiny, do not forget to add
instruction to amusement, by pointing out to them that it ended in the
disgrace and death of the ringleaders. Tell them that, in your
presence, one of them acknowledged on the quarter-deck the justice of
his sentence, and returned thanks to his Majesty for his kindness in
pardoning others who had been led into the same error. Tell them to do
their duty, to fight nobly for their King and country, and warn them by
our example--"

At this moment Willy, who had eluded the vigilance of old Adams, who was
occupied in supporting the inanimate Ellen, pushed his way between the
legs of the marines, who were drawn up in ranks on the quarter-deck,
and, running to his father, laid hold of the loose sailor's trousers in
which he was attired, and looked anxiously and inquisitively in his
face. Peters's voice faltered; he attempted to continue his address to
the men, but could not; and waiving his hand, and pointing to the child,
in mute explanation of the cause, after struggling in vain against the
overflowings of a father's heart, he bent over the boy and burst into
tears.

The effect was electrical. The shock was communicated to all; not an
eye but was dimmed; sobs were heard in the crowd; the oldest officers
turned away to conceal their emotions; the younger, and more fresh in
heart, covered their faces, and leant against the bulwarks; the marines
forgot their discipline, and raised their hands from their sides to wipe
their eyes. Many a source, long supposed to be hermetically sealed, was
re-opened, many a spring long dry reflowed rapidly; even Captain
A--- was moved.

By a singular coincidence, the grouping of the parties at this moment
was nearly the same as when we first introduced our little hero to the
reader,--the officers and marines on the after part of the deck, the
ship's company forward, and little Willy standing between the two.
Again he appears in the same position;--but what a change of feeling had
taken place! As if he had been a little spirit of good, waving his
fairy talisman, evil passions, which in the former scene were let loose,
had retired to their darkest recesses,