'What! we are prisoners?
You dare to detain us?'

Temple chimed in, in a similar strain. Fairly enraged, we flung at him
without anything of what I thought eloquence.

The captain ruminated up and down the columns of his Bible.

I was stung to feel that we were like two small terriers baiting a huge
mild bull. At last he said, 'The story of the Prodigal Son.'

'Oh!' groaned Temple, at the mention of this worn-out old fellow, who
has gone in harness to tracts ever since he ate the fatted calf.

But the captain never heeded his interruption.

'Young gentlemen, I've finished it while you 've been barking at me.
If I 'd had him early in life on board my vessel, I hope I'm not
presumptuous in saying--the Lord forgive me if I be so!--I'd have
stopped his downward career--ay, so!--with a trip in the right
direction. The Lord, young gentlemen, has not thrown you into my hands
for no purpose whatsoever. Thank him on your knees to-night, and thank
Joseph Double, my mate, when you rise, for he was the instrument of
saving you from bad company. If this was a vessel where you 'd hear an
oath or smell the smell of liquor, I 'd have let you run when there
was terra firma within stone's throw. I came on board, I found you both
asleep, with those marks of dissipation round your eyes, and I swore--in
the Lord's name, mind you--I'd help pluck you out of the pit while you
had none but one leg in. It's said! It's no use barking. I am not to
be roused. The devil in me is chained by the waist, and a twenty-pound
weight on his tongue. With your assistance I'll do the same for the
devil in you. Since you've had plenty of sleep, I 'll trouble you to
commit to memory the whole story of the Prodigal Son 'twixt now and
morrow's sunrise. We 'll have our commentary on it after labour done.
Labour you will in my vessel, for your soul's health. And let me advise
you not to talk; in your situation talking's temptation to lying. You'll
do me the obligation to feed at my table. And when I hand you back to
your parents, why, they'll thank me, if you won't. But it's not thanks I
look for: it's my bounden Christian duty I look to. I reckon a couple o'
stray lambs equal to one lost sheep.'

The captain uplifted his arm, ejaculating solemnly, 'By!' and faltered.
'You were going to swear!' said Temple, with savage disdain.

'By the blessing of Omnipotence! I'll save a pair o' pups from turning
wolves. And I'm a weak mortal man, that 's too true.'

'H