There is nothing extraordinary in these feelings; a very common resource, under such circumstances, being to imagine delinquencies that justify us to ourselves, by endeavoring to believe that the subject of any act of our oppression at least merits the infliction.
"Do you dare to deny what this young gentleman has just said, sirrah ?" demanded the captain.

"I now remember you myself; you are Bolt, the foretop-man, that ran at Plymouth." "You'd a-run, too, Captain Cuffe, had you been in my place, had the ship been at Jericho." "Enough--no impudence, sir.

Send for the master-at-arms, Mr.Griffin, and have the fellow ironed: to-morrow we'll look into the affair." These orders were obeyed, and Ithuel was removed to the place where the master-at-arms usually reigns on board ship.

Cuffe now gave the lieutenant his conge, and then withdrew to the inner-cabin, to prepare a despatch for the rear-admiral.

He was near an hour writing a letter to his mind, but finally succeeded.