een to land, and no one had heard of him. The dinghy, however, having
disappeared from the brig's stern, was sufficient proof that he had
effected his escape in her. I was too much occupied all the time I was
at Smyrna, to make many observations about the place. Figs are the
great staple produce and subject of conversation for the greater part of
the year, enlivened now and then by a visit from the plague, and then
people talk about that; but at the time I speak of, I do not know that
it had ever occurred to the inhabitants that they had the means in their
own hands of avoiding its constant presence by properly draining their
city. I have since, from the observations I have made in my course
through life, come to the belief that there is not an ill which afflicts
mankind which they have not the means of mitigating, if not of avoiding
altogether.--But to return to my narrative. As there was nothing more
to detain us at Smyrna, the two vessels made sail, and shaped a course
for Malta.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

VOYAGE TO MALTA--THE REPENTANT PIRATE--THE PLAGUE--A SQUALL--BOBBY
SMUDGE PROVES USEFUL--ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE THE SCHOONER--TRIAL OF THE
PRISONERS--THEIR EXECUTION--THE YOUNG PIRATE'S DYING COUNSEL.

We had been five days at sea, and a fair breeze, though somewhat light
at times, had sent us tolerably well on our course. A strict watch had
been kept on the prisoners. All seemed very unconcerned as to the
almost certain fate which awaited them. They ate and drank, and laughed
and conversed among themselves, as if they were to be released at the
end of the voyage. One of their number, however, who had received a
severe hurt in the scuffle when they were captured, was in a very
different temper. He kept as far apart from them as he could, and
joined neither in their jokes nor conversation. He was far younger than
the rest; and as I watched him I observed an expression in his
countenance which would not have been there had he been a hardened
villain. He seemed grateful to me also for noticing him, and I
consequently frequently took an opportunity of saying a word to him
appropriate to his situation.

"I should like to read, sir, if I had a book," he said to me one day.
"I once was used to reading, and it would be a great comfort."

I promised to try and get him a book. When I told Mr Vernon of the
man's request, he advised me to lend him my Bible. "He may not care for
it at first," he observed; "but as h