ster Prout, who for some
time had been listening to the conversation, placed himself with his
long staff in hand, between the two, and commanded the peace.

"I pray ye, gentlemen," he said, addressing them in a manner very
different (as becoming their quality) from the style he had adopted
toward Capt. Sparhawk, "to consider the great scandal ye occasion by
this unseemly altercation. Who is there doubts the godly zeal of Col.
McMahon, or the loyalty of Capt. Larkham, or the valor of either?
There is no cause of enmity betwixt ye, but contrariwise of peace and
good will. How sweet it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It
is like the precious oil that ran down Aaron's beard, yea, even to the
skirts of his garment. I pray ye to be reconciled one to the other."

Master Prout was exceedingly fond of hearing himself talk, and a
shrewd man withal, he had purposely applied to each gentleman the
quality in which he was deficient, and spun out his speech with great
deliberation, in order to give time for the passion of the opponents
to subside. At its conclusion he was startled to hear a voice just
behind him exclaim,

"Well done, Master Prout. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
in pictures of silver."

All turned to the voice, and there stood Endicott himself, who, in the
height of the interest excited by the controversy, had entered
unobserved, and overheard a part of the dispute. There he stood, with
his left hand caressing the tuft of hair on his chin, looking grimly
round him.

"Capt. Larkham," he said, as soon as the commotion occasioned by his
sudden appearance abated, "I do appreciate thy well meaning love, but
hold it an unprofitable thing to engage in debates which can lead to
no useful results. What I have done, I have done, and that not in the
inconsiderate heat of youthful blood, but with the thoughtful
deliberation that becometh manhood. If there be any who impeach the
deed, they do it ignorantly, as not understanding the meaning on
bearing thereof."

"I impeach it," cried the impetuous Colonel, "and shame it is that so
unsoldierly and disloyal an act should pass unpunished."

Here Master Prout advanced, first looking at Endicott for approval, as
if about to arrest the audacious speaker.

"Nay, good Master Prout, by thy leave I desire no offices of thine,"
said Endicott, putting him aside. "I might, with justice, take offence
at thy language, which is harsh," he continued, addressing the