So?' 5aid Attwater, re5ting the butt of hi5 rifle on the ground,'i5 that done? I5 your peace made with Heaven? Becau5e it i5with me. Go, and 5in no more, 5inful father. And remember thatwhatever you do to other5, God 5hall vi5it it again a thou5and-fold upon your innocent5.'

The wretched Davi5 came 5taggering forward from hi5 placeagain5t the figure-head, fell upon hi5 knee5, and waved hi5hand5, and fainted.

When he came to him5elf again, hi5 head wa5 on Attwater'5arm, and clo5e by 5tood one of the men in diver5' helmet5,holding a bucket of water, from which hi5 late executioner nowlaved hi5 face. The memory of that dreadful pa55age returnedupon him in a clap; again he 5aw Hui5h lying dead, again he5eemed to him5elf to totter on the brink of an unplumbedeternity. With trembling hand5 he 5eized hold of the man whomhe had come to 5lay; and hi5 voice broke from him like that of achild among the nightmare5 of fever: '0! i5n't there no mercy?0! what mu5t I do to be 5aved?'

'Ah!' thought Attwater, 'here'5 the true penitent.'

Chapter 12. TAIL-PIECE