on into
some supernatural messenger clothed in shining array, his opinion was
confirmed by a sudden explosion, which he took for thunder, though it
was no other than the noise of a pistol fired down the chimney by the
boatswain's mate, according to the instructions he had received; and he
had time enough to descend before he was in any danger of being detected
by his commodore, who could not for an hour recollect himself from the
amazement and consternation which had overpowered his faculties.

At length, however, he got up, and rang his bell with great agitation.
He repeated the summons more than once; but no regard being paid to this
alarm, his dread returned with double terror, a cold sweat bedewed his
limbs, his knees knocked together, his hair bristled up, and the remains
of his teeth were shattered in pieces in the convulsive vibrations of
his jaws.

In the midst of this agony he made one desperate effort, and, bursting
open the door of apartment, bolted into Hatchway's chamber, which
happened to be on the same floor. There he found the lieutenant in
a counterfeit swoon, who pretended to wake from his trance in an
ejaculation of "Lord have mercy upon us!" and being questioned by the
terrified commodore with regard to what had happened, assured him he had
heard the same voice and clap of thunder by which Trunnion himself had
been discomposed.

Pipes, whose turn it was to watch, concurred in giving evidence to the
same purpose; and the commodore not only owned that he had heard the
voice, but likewise communicated his vision, with all the aggravation
which his disturbed fancy suggested.

A consultation immediately ensued, in which Mr. Hatchway gravely
observed that the finger of Heaven was plainly perceivable in those
signals, and that it would be both sinful and foolish to disregard its
commands, especially as the match proposed was, in all respects, more
advantageous than any that one of his years could reasonably expect;
declaring that for his own part he would not endanger his soul and body
by living one day longer under the same roof with a man who despised the
will of Heaven; and Tom Pipes adhered to the same pious resolution.

Trunnion's perseverance could not resist the number and diversity
of considerations that assaulted it; he revolved in silence all the
opposite motives that occurred to his reflection; and after having been,
to all appearance, bewildered in the labyrinth of his own thoughts, he
wip