"'Why, man,' observed Vengeance, 'I thought you were going to have
sense at last, and that you sent for me to give you some spiritual
consolation.'

"'No, sir,' replied Mick; 'I have two or three words to spake to you.'

"'Come, come, Mick, now that we're on a spiritual subject, I'll hear
nothing from you till I try whether it's possible to give you a trute
insight into religion. Stop, now, and let us lay our heads together,
that we may make out something of a dacenter creed for you to believe
in than the one you profess. Tell me the truth, do you believe in the
priests?'

"'How?' replied Mick; 'I believe that they're holy men--but I know they
can't save me widout the Redeemer and His blessed mother,'

"'By the light above us, you're shuffling, Mick--I say you do believe in
them--now, don't tell me to the contrary--I say you're shuffling as fast
as possible.'

"'I tould you truth, sir,' replied Mick; 'and if you don't believe me, I
can't help it.'

"'Don't trust in the priests, Mick; that's the main point to secure your
salvation.'

"Mick, who knew his prejudices against the priests, smiled faintly, and
replied--

"'Why, sir, I trust in them as bein' able to make inthercession wid God
for me, that's all'

"'They make intercession! By the stool I'm sitting on, a single word
from one of them would ruin you. They, a set of ribles, to make interest
for you in heaven! Didn't they rise the rebellion in Ireland?--answer me
that.'

"'This is a subject, sir, we would never agree on,' replied Mick.

"'Have you the Ten Commandments?' inquired Vesey.

"'I doubt my mimory's not clear enough to have them in my mind,'
said the lad, feeling keenly the imputation of ignorance, which he
apprehended from Vesey's blunt observations.

"Vesey, however, had penetration enough to perceive his feelings, and,
with more delicacy than could be expected from him, immediately moved
the question.

"'No matter, Mick,' said he, 'if you would give up the priests, we
would get over that point: as it is, I will give you a lift in the
Commandments; and, as I said a while ago,' if you take my advice, I'll
work up a creed for you that you may depend upon. But now, for the
Commandments--let me see.

"'First: Thou shalt have no other gods but me. Don't you see, man how
that peppers the priests?'

"'Second: Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day.'

"'Third: That shalt not make to thyself--no, hang it no!--I'm
out--that's the Sec