it was."

"Did you ever lose sight of me?"

"Iss; once or twice."

"Then how can you be sure that I, the man you captured, was the same man
you say you saw showing the light on the headland?"

At this the man looked confused, and then I wished that I had tried to
get a lawyer to defend me, for I saw how much better he could have done
it than I could defend myself. For my mind was in a very confused state
all the while, so confused that my remembrance of it now is by no means
clear. Indeed, I know I have described my trial with anything but
clearness as to the order of events, although I have set down,
truthfully, the general facts of the whole business.

I do remember, however, that Admiral Trefry asked the Preventive men
some questions upon this very point which upset them very considerably;
and I also remember, seeing that for the moment things looked a little
brighter for me, I said to the Admiral that I was a good many miles from
the Lizard at the very time these men had declared they were pursuing
me.

"Where were you, then?" asked the Admiral.

"I was in St. Eve."

"Where there?"

"At Pennington."

At this Richard Tresidder started up in astonishment.

"Did any one see you at Pennington?" asked the Admiral.

"Yes."

"Who saw you?"

At this I was silent, and I was wishing I had not said so much, when I
heard a voice that thrilled me asking to give evidence.

CHAPTER XII

HOW MY LOVE SAVED ME--WHEN FREE I GO TO SEA, AND MONTHS LATER COME BACK
TO BETSEY'S COTTAGE AND HEAR BAD NEWS

As I turned my heart seemed to stand still, for I saw Naomi Penryn, but
when for a moment her eyes met mine it started thumping against my side
as though it had been set at liberty from bondage. I saw, too, that
Richard Tresidder was as surprised as I, and I was afraid lest my love
should be taken to task for what she had done. For a few minutes
everything seemed to swim before my eyes, and my head whirled so that I
thought I was going to faint; but presently as I heard Naomi in sweet,
steady tones answering questions my strength came back to me again.

"You say," said Admiral Trefry, "that Jasper Pennington was in
Pennington kitchen at midnight last Wednesday?"

"He was," replied Naomi, clearly.

After that a lawyer asked her concerning many things. So impudent was he
that I had a difficulty in keeping myself from jumping from the place
where I stood and throttling him on the spot.

"Were you alone in