to us they had
told him, we feared that he had obtained from them all the information
he required. He left the brig directly we entered port, and immediately
returned to Jamaica.

Captain Helfrich was received in Dublin as one who had returned from the
dead; for the account of his supposed death had preceded us, and his
wife had actually assumed widow's mourning for him. His sudden
appearance very nearly cost her her life.

We took the usual time to refit the brig, and then sailed once more for
the same destination. We had the usual number of passengers, and all
went well till we reached Kingston.

After we had lain a little time there, we saw from the captain's manner
that all was not going well with him; and Peter told me that from what
he heard on shore, that he was accused of having been leagued with
pirates; and that all sorts of things were said about him. This, to a
man of the captain's temperament, was very trying. Those who knew him
best, must have been perfectly convinced that, for many years past, he
could not possibly have been guilty of any act of piracy; although I
could have little doubt that, in his early days, he must, in some way or
other, have been connected with the person whom I knew alone by the name
of Captain Ralph. It was a practical evidence of the truth of that
saying of Holy Writ, that the sins of his youth rise up in judgment
against a man in his old age.

We had little difficulty in tracing the reports to the malignity of the
man who had acted as mate during the last passage home. In consequence
of these reports, Captain Helfrich had considerable difficulty in
obtaining a cargo for the brig; and so disgusted was he with all the
annoyance he had received, that he resolved not to return again to the
West Indies.

At last, however, we were ready to sail. The evening before we were to
go to sea, a boat came alongside, pulled by black men, with one man only
in the stern-sheets. He asked to see Captain Helfrich. I looked over
the side, and recognised him as Michael, the tall negro who had been the
means of rescuing us from the Maroons. Mr Gale sent me to let the
captain know that a person wanted to see him, and of course I told him
who he was. The captain accordingly directed me to invite him below at
once. I did so, and remained in the cabin.

"I've come, captain," said he, "to ask a favour of you."

"Anything you ask I am bound to grant," answered the captain.

"All I ha