c, or by his most careless nod in the street. But "my Lord" does
not know that this is a paper currency that represents no capital,
that it is not convertible at will, and is never a legal tender; and
consequently, as a requital for actual _bona fide_ services, is about as
honest a payment as a flash note.

It was no breach of my principle that I accepted Sir Dudley's offer. Our
acquaintance began by my rendering him a service; and I was as free
to leave him that hour, and, I own, as ready to do so, if occasion
permitted, as he could be to get rid of me; and it was not long before
the occasion presented itself for exercising these views.

As I lay thus, ruminating on my past fortunes, Halkett descended the
steerage-ladder, followed by Felborg, the Dane; and, approaching my
hammock, held a light to my face for a few seconds. "Still asleep?" said
Halkett. "Poor boy! he has never awoke since I dressed his wound this
morning. I 'm sure it's better; so let us leave him so."

"Ay, ay," said the Dane, "let him sleep; bad tidings come soon enough,
without one's being awoke to hear them. But do you think he 'll do it?"
added he, with lower and more anxious tone.

"He has said so; and I never knew him fail in his promise when it was a
cruel one."

"Have you no influence over him, Halkett? Could you not speak for the
boy?"

"I have done all I could,--more than perhaps it was safe to do. I told
him I could n't answer for the men, if he were to shoot him on board;
and he replied to me short, 'I 'll take the fellow ashore with me
alone; neither you nor they have any right to question what you are not
to witness.'"

"Well, when I get back to Elsinore, it's to a prison and heavy irons I
shall go for life, that's certain; but I 'd face it all rather than live
the life we've done now for twenty months past."

"Hush! speak low!" said the other. "I suppose others are weary of it as
well as you. Many a man has to live a bad life just because he started
badly."

"I 'm sorry for the boy!" sighed the Dane; "he was a bold and fearless
fellow."

"I am sorry for him too. It was an evil day for him when he joined us.
Well, well, what would he have become if he had lived a year or two on
board!"

"He has no father nor mother," said the Dane, "that's something. I lost
mine, too, when I was nine years old; and it made me the reckless devil
I became ever after. I was n't sixteen when the crew of the 'Tre-Kroner'
mutinied, and I led the