have been a terrible blow,
sure, sor!"

"It was," replied the colonel grimly. "It knocked him down like a
bullock, and then, before I could interfere, the big brute took up
Captain Alphonse, all bleeding and senseless as he was, but still
breathing, and chucked him into the sea.

"That was the negro's last act, however; for, as he broke into a huge
guffaw of triumph over the ghastly deed, I fired my revolver, the barrel
of which I shoved almost into his mouth and blew his brains out!"

"Hooray!" exclaimed the impulsive Garry O'Neil on hearing this. "Faith,
I ounly wish, colonel, I had been there with ye. Begorrah, I'd have
made 'em hop at it, sure, I bet, sor!

"After that," continued the narrator, we had some stiff work for five
minutes or so, but by keeping the skylight between us, the continuous
fire of our four revolvers at such short range proved too much for them,
and we succeeded in driving the blacks off the poop. The whole lot of
them retreated back to the forecastle, leaving five of their number dead
about the decks, besides half a dozen or so of the others badly wounded;
all of us, fortunately, escaping with only a few slight bruises from
blows from the Haytian's clubs and hand-spikes--the only weapons they
used.

"All save poor Captain Alphonse, that is; for it was only when the coast
was clear of the scoundrels and the poop safe again that I had time to
think of him.

"Pedro Gomez, remaining with Basseterre and one of the sailors, to guard
the port-ladder way with their six-shooters loaded and levelled in
front, commanding all approach aft, in the same way as the mate and poor
Captain Alphonse had done in the first instance, I went off with all
haste to the stern gallery to see what had become of my unfortunate
friend, taking the other three sailors with me, for though taking part
in the general scrimmage when the blacks invaded the poop so
unexpectedly, Don Miguel and Johnson had stuck valiantly to their post
by the starboard rail, and so I had no fear of another surprise on now
proceeding aft.

"It was still light enough to distinguish objects near, and as I looked
over the side, what was my astonishment to see his body yet afloat, not
far from the ship. Aye, sir, there he was; and, stranger still, as my
eye caught sight of him, the poor fellow, unconsciously, no doubt,
raised one hand out of the dark water with a quick, convulsive action,
just as though he were beckoning to me and imploring