"It was a hard necessity; but I know the nature of the Malays
well, and had we not fired on them they would not have yielded." While
he was speaking, a boy came out of the cabin, and went up to him. "Oh,
they wish to see you; and I fear the poor master's time is short. We
will go below, gentlemen." Saying this, the commander led the way into
his own cabin.

It was, indeed, a sad sight which met our view. On the table in the
centre lay Captain Van Deck, resting in the arms of the surgeon. The
sheet which was wrapped round him was covered with blood. A round shot
had torn open his side, and he had a wound from a kriss in his chest,
and another in his neck, either of which, from their ghastly look,
appeared sufficient to be mortal. His wife stood by his side holding
his hand; and she seemed truly overwhelmed with genuine sorrow. She,
very likely, was even then recollecting all the trouble and vexation she
had caused him, by giving way to her temper. On a sofa lay a slight
figure--it was that of little Maria. I started, with horror, for I
thought I saw a corpse, she looked so pale; her eyes also were closed,
and she did not stir. I scarcely dared ask for information. My
attention was drawn to the dying master.

"I have begged to see you, gentlemen, for my moments are numbered," he
said, gasping as he spoke. "I crave your forgiveness, if, through my
carelessness and neglect of my duties, I have brought you into the
danger and misery you have suffered. I know you, Fairburn, held my
seamanship light."

We stopped him, and begged him not to think of the subject.

"Well, I will go on to a more important one, then," he continued. "We
have been shipmates for some time, and that makes us brethren. I commit
my wife and that dear child, if she recovers, to your charge, to see
them safe with their kindred in Java. And you, my poor frow, will be
kind to sweet little Maria. I would not mention it, but to say that the
kindness you show to her will more than compensate for any little want
of it you have at times displayed towards me."

He hesitated as he spoke, as if he did not like to call up old
grievances.

Mrs Van Deck again burst into tears; and we who knew how very
uncomfortable a life she had at times led him, could not help feeling
that he was in a truly Christian and forgiving state of mind. Had he
and she always been in that state of mind--had, perhaps, even a few
words of mutual explanation taken pla