the entrance of the great harbour. Four of the
bodies, being sewn up in tarred canvas, were hung in chains to a lofty
gibbet; while two were buried beneath it. For many long months
afterwards the four pirates hung there,--a terrible and disgusting
sight, and an awful warning to all who might be inclined to pursue the
same evil course.

The chaplain returned me my Bible the following day. Within it I found
a note from Adams, first, thanking me warmly for my attention to him;
and it then continued,--"Shameful as is my merited fate, I would that
all my young countrymen may know it. Tell all you meet that they are
sent into this world, not to live for themselves, but for others,--as a
place of trial, not of amusement; that if they would secure contentment
now, and happiness for the future, they must, first of all things, learn
to conquer themselves; they must overcome their tempers--their
passions--their love of ease--of self-indulgence; they must remember
that they are surrounded by snares and temptations of all sorts, all
allowed to exist for the purpose of trying them; that the devil is
always going about, ever ready to present the bait most likely to lure
them to destruction. I entreat you--I adjure you--to make this known
wherever you can. The knowledge of this may save numbers from ruin. It
cannot too often be brought before the minds of the young. I was
ignorant of it. I thought that I had a right to follow my own
inclinations,--that it was manly to do so; and, oh! how sorely have I
suffered for my ignorance!--how bitterly do I repent my infatuation.
Yet, miserable as is my fate, if I can but prove a warning to others, I
shall not have lived in vain."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

CAN SHE BE THE ARIADNE?--SAIL FOR THE REEF COAST--DISCOVER THE LOST
VESSEL--MAKE A PRISONER--ADVENTURES ON SHORE--VISIT THE OLD SHEIKH--FIND
JACK STRETCHER--HOW WE DID THE REEFIANS--JACK AND HIS HORNPIPE--OUR
FLIGHT--PURSUED--ESCAPE.

So completely had Mr Vernon's health and spirits given way, that we on
board the _Harold_ were afraid he would have to leave the ship and go
home. At this juncture a merchant-brig came in from the westward, and
the master reported that, having been driven close in on the African
coast, he had seen a vessel, apparently a complete wreck, on shore. He
stated that he had stood-in to examine her more closely, when, seeing
through his glass a number of armed men come down and prepare to launch
their boats,