and all the better feelings of
humanity were called forth and displayed in one universal, spontaneous,
and unfeigned tribute to the melancholy and affecting scene.

The silence was first broken by Willy--"Where are you going, father; and
why do you wear that night-cap?"

"I am going to sleep, child,--to an eternal sleep! God bless and
protect you," said Peters, taking him up and kissing him. "And now,
sir, I am ready," continued Peters, who had recovered his
self-possession; "Captain A---, I forgive you, as I trust to be forgiven
myself. Mr ---," said he, addressing the first-lieutenant, "take this
child by the hand, and do not permit him to come forward--remember, he
is the `King's Own.'" Then, bowing to the chaplain, who had scarcely
recovered from the effects that the scene had produced upon him, and
looking significantly at the provost-marshal, Peters bent his steps
forward by the gangway--the noose was fastened--the gun fired, and, in a
moment, all was over.

Loud as was the report of the gun, those who were appointed to the
unpleasant duty of running aft with the rope on the main-deck, which
swung Peters to the yard-arm, heard a shriek that even that deafening
noise could not overpower. It was the soul of Ellen joining that of her
husband--and, before the day closed, their bodies were consigned to the
same grave--

"Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest."

CHAPTER FIVE.

Lord of himself, that heritage of woe.
BYRON.

Our novel may, to a certain degree, be compared to one of the pantomimes
which rival theatres annually bring forth for the amusement of the
holiday children. We open with dark and solemn scenes, introducing
occasionally a bright image which appears with the greater lustre from
the contrast around it; and thus we proceed, until Harlequin is fairly
provided with his wand, and despatched to seek his adventures by land
and by sea. To complete the parallel, the whole should wind up with a
blaze of light and beauty, till our dazzled eyes are relieved, and the
illusion disappears, at the fall of the green curtain, which, like the
"FINIS" at the end of the third volume, tells us that all is over.

We must, however, be allowed to recapitulate a little in this chapter,
previously to launching our hero upon the uncertain and boisterous sea
of human life. It will be necessary, for the correct development of the
piece, that the attention of the reader should b