im off into the sea. He could
not swim, I knew, and after waiting a minute or two, I looked over and
saw his body, just as it sank, after his last struggles. I then
hastened away, and my guilty conscience induced me to ascend the ravine,
and collect a faggot of firewood to bring home, that no suspicions might
be entertained; but my so doing was the very cause of suspicion, as you
will afterwards perceive. I returned with the wood, and the captain
observed, when I came up to the cabin:--

"`Why, it's something new for you to collect wood out of your turn,
Jackson. Wonders will never cease.'

"`The fact is, that I am becoming very amiable,' replied I, hardly
knowing what to say, and afraid to look either of them in the face, for
your mother, with you on her lap, was standing close by.

"`Has my husband caught any fish, do you know, Jackson?' said your
mother, `for it is high time that he came home.'

"`How can I tell?' replied I. `I have been up the ravine for wood.'

"`But you were down on the rock two hours ago,' replied your mother,
`for Captain James saw you coming away.'

"`That I certainly did,' replied the captain. `Had he caught any fish
when you were with him?'

"They must have perceived my confusion when I said, `Yes, I was on the
rocks, but I never went near Henniker, that I'll swear.'

"`You must have been near him, even when I saw you,' replied the
captain.

"`I never looked at him, if I was,' replied I.

"`Well then, one of us had better go down and see what he is about,'
said the captain. `Shall I leave Jackson with you?'

"`Yes, yes,' replied your mother, much agitated, `for I have my
forebodings; better leave him here.'

"The captain hastened down to the rocks, and in a quarter of an hour
returned very much heated, saying, `He is not there!'

"`Not there?' replied I, getting up, for I had seated myself in silence
on the rock during the captain's absence: `that's very odd.'

"`It is,' replied the captain. `Jackson, go and try if you see anything
of him, while I attend to Mrs Henniker.'

"Your mother, on the captain's return, had bowed her head down to her
knees, and covered her face with her hands. I was glad of an excuse to
be away, for my heart smote me as I witnessed her condition.

"I remained away half an hour, and then returned, saying, that I could
see nothing of your father.

"Your mother was in the cabin, and the captain went in to her, while I
remained outside with a