hen, Mr Hardsett?" inquired Robinson. "Surely not in--"

"I know--I know,"--cried Price, who again lifted up his head, and, with
a vacant laugh, commenced singing--

"Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Sea nymphs hourly ring his knell!
Hark! now I hear them--ding-dong-bell."

"For shame, Mr Price!" interrupted the boatswain.

"Ding-dong-ding-dong-bell."

"Mr Price, what does the Scripture say? `Judgments are prepared for
scorners,'" continued the boatswain with vehemence.

Price had resumed his former attitude, and made no answer. As soon as
the interruption of the lieutenant had ceased, Robinson resumed his
interrogatory to the boatswain: "Where then?--not in hell, I hope."

"Ay," returned the latter, "in the fire that is never quenched, and for
ever and ever."

"I hope not," replied Robinson; "I may deserve punishment, and I know I
do. I've been overhauling my log-book, while the sea here has been
dashing over my bows, and washing my figure-head; and there are some
things I wish I could forget;--they will rise up in judgment against me;
but surely not for ever?"

"You should have thought of that before, my good fellow. I am sorry for
you,--sorry for all those who have perished, for they were good seamen,
and, in the worldly service, have done well. I was reflecting the other
day whether, out of the whole navy, I should be able to muster one
single ship's company in heaven."

"Well, Mr Hardsett, it's my firm opinion, that when the hands are
turned up for punishment in the next world, we shall be sarved out
according to our desarts. Now, that's my belief; and I shan't change it
for yours, Mr Hardsett, for I thinks mine the more comfortable of the
two."

"It won't do, Robinson, you must have faith."

"So I have, in God's mercy, boatswain."

"That won't do. Yours is not the true faith."

"Mayhap not, but I hope to ride it out with it nevertheless, for I have
it well backed with hope; and if I still drive,"--said Robinson, musing
a short time--"why, I have charity as a sheet-anchor, to bring me up
again. It's long odds but our bodies will soon be knocked to shivers in
those breakers, and we shall then know who's right, and who's wrong. I
see small chance of our saving ourselves, unless indeed we could walk on
the sea, and there was but one that ever did that."

"Had the apostle had faith, he would not have sunk," rejoined the