h plenty of
money, and a good head on his shoulders; sensible on every point except
his Jealousy."

"The man must be an idiot," said I, indignantly, "to rush
indiscriminately about the world with accusations of this kind. Who
wants to supplant him? Who seeks to rob him of the affections of his
wife?"

"That's all very well and very specious," said he, gravely; "but if
men will deliberately set themselves down at a writing-table, hammering
their brains for fine sentiments, and toiling to find grand expressions
for their passion, it does not require that a husband should be as
jealous as Christy Jopplyn to take it badly. I don't think I'm a rash or
a hasty man, but I know what I 'd do in such a circumstance."

"And pray, what would _you_ do?" said I, half impertinently.

"I 'd just say,4 Look here, young gent, is this balderdash here your
hand? Well, now, eat your words. Yes, eat them. I mean what I say. Eat
up that letter, seal and all, or, by my oath, I 'll break every bone in
your skin!'"

"It is exactly what I intend," cried a voice, hoarse with passion; and
Jopplyn himself sprang into the room, and dashed at me.

The skipper was a most powerful man, but it required all his strength,
and not very gingerly exercised either, to hold off my enraged
adversary. "Will you be quiet, Christy?" cried he, holding him by the
throat "Will you just be quiet for one instant, or must I knock you
down?"

"Do! do! by all means," muttered I; for I thought if he were once on the
ground, I could finish him off with a large pewter measure that stood on
the table.

With a rough shake the skipper had at last convinced the other that
resistance was useless, and induced him to consent to a parley.

"Let him only tell you" said he, "what he has told me, Christy."

"Don't strike, but hear me," cried I; and safe in my stockade behind the
skipper, I recounted my mistake.

"And _you_ believe all this?" asked Jopplyn of the skipper, when I had
finished.

"Believe it,--I should think I do! I have known him since he was a child
that high, and I 'll answer for his good conduct and behavior."

Heaven bless you for that bail bond, though endorsed in a lie, honest
ship-captain! and I only hope I may live to requite you for it.

Jopplyn was appeased; but it was the suppressed wrath of a brown bear
rather than the vanquished anger of a man. He had booked himself for
something cruel, and he was miserable to be balked. Nor was I myself--I