But that's neither here nor
there, if you only save the ship. Oh, Mr. John, in five minutes more
you must decide. See," pointing to the frigate, "how she rises! Think
of it. Think of it once more before you jeopard the safety of this
ship for any woman. Honor, sir, and duty--it's laid upon you, you must
do it--they come before everything."

Seymour looked at the old man tenderly, and then grasped him by the
hand. "You are right, old friend. Forgive my rough words. I will do
it. It kills me, but I will do it--the country first of all. O God,
pity me and help me!" he cried.

"Amen," said Bentley, his face working with grief, yet iron in its
determination and resolution.

Seymour turned on his heel and sprang aft, bringing his hand the while
up to his heart. As he did so, his fingers instinctively went to the
pocket of his waistcoat and sought the letter he carried there.

He took it out half mechanically and glanced at the familiar writing
once more, when a sudden gust of wind snatched it out of his hand and
blew it to the feet of Talbot.

"My letter!" cried Seymour, impulsively.

The soldier courteously stooped and picked it up and glanced down at
the open scrap mechanically, as he extended his hand toward Seymour;
then the next moment he cried,--

"Why, it's from Katharine!"

One unconscious inspection sufficed to put him in possession of the
contents. "Where did you get this note, sir?" he exclaimed, his face
flushing with jealousy and sudden suspicion; "it is mine, I am the one
she loves. How came it in your possession?" he continued, in rising
heat.

Seymour, already unstrung by the fearful strain he had gone through and
the frightful decision he would have to make later on, nay, had made
after Bentley's words, was in no mood to be catechized.

"I am not in the habit of answering such personal questions, sir. And
I recognize no right in you to so question me."

"Right, sir! I find a letter in your possession with words of love in
it, from my betrothed, a note plainly meant for me, and which has been
withheld. How comes it so?"

"And I repeat, sir, I have nothing to say except to demand the return
of my letter instantly; it is mine, and I will have it."

"Do you not know, Mr. Seymour, that we have been pledged to each other
since childhood, that we have been lovers, she is to be my wife? I
love her and she loves me; explain this letter then."

"It is false, Mr. Talbot; she has pled