nfused with the celebrated _Blackbeard_. The dates and facts by no
means tally. It is possible the second Teach may have at once
borrowed the name and imitated the more excessive part of his
manners from the first. Even the Master of Ballantrae could make
admirers.

[4] _Note by Mr. Mackellar_.--And is not this the whole explanation?
since this Dutton, exactly like the officers, enjoyed the stimulus
of some responsibility.

[5] _Note by Mr. Mackellar_.--A complete blunder: there was at this
date no word of the marriage: see above in my own narration.

CHAPTER IV

PERSECUTIONS ENDURED BY MR. HENRY

You can guess on what part of his adventures the Colonel principally
dwelled. Indeed, if we had heard it all, it is to be thought the current
of this business had been wholly altered; but the pirate ship was very
gently touched upon. Nor did I hear the Colonel to an end even of that
which he was willing to disclose; for Mr. Henry, having for some while
been plunged in a brown study, rose at last from his seat and (reminding
the Colonel there were matters that he must attend to) bade me follow
him immediately to the office.

Once there, he sought no longer to dissemble his concern, walking to and
fro in the room with a contorted face, and passing his hand repeatedly
upon his brow.

"We have some business," he began at last; and there broke off, declared
we must have wine, and sent for a magnum of the best. This was extremely
foreign to his habitudes; and, what was still more so, when the wine had
come, he gulped down one glass upon another like a man careless of
appearances. But the drink steadied him.

"You will scarce be surprised, Mackellar," says he, "when I tell you
that my brother--whose safety we are all rejoiced to learn--stands in
some need of money."

I told him I had misdoubted as much; but the time was not very
fortunate, as the stock was low.

"Not mine," said he. "There is the money for the mortgage."

I reminded him it was Mrs. Henry's.

"I will be answerable to my wife," he cried violently.

"And then," said I, "there is the mortgage."

"I know," said he; "it is on that I would consult you."

I showed him how unfortunate a time it was to divert this money from its
destination; and how, by so doing, we must lose the profit of our past
economies, and plunge back the estate into the mire. I even took the
liberty to plead with him; and when he still opposed