"As it was not a question of conscience with me, in the frame of mind I
was then in, there was no trouble in following the devil's advice. I
conceived a plan for sending this captain out of the world by the
shortest road, seizing the ship, and roving unrestrained upon the free
sea. It was soon found that there was enough on board to join the
enterprise and share the spoils, and the plan was carried out when we
were half voyage over. That was fifty years ago. I shall never forget
the terrible struggle of that night, nor the bloody work that was done.
Heaven forgive me. When I had got command I ran the Storm into the
Caribbean Sea, landed all who were suspected, as well as such as more
openly opposed the enterprise, on an island, and then put away for the
Pacific via Cape Horn. When we got into the Pacific, we hoisted--." The
old man paused suddenly and hung down, his head. "Heaven forgive me for
my crimes," he resumed, evidently in doubt about acknowledging the full
force of his crimes.
"I may as well tell you it all--shake the load free from my conscience,
and ask you to join me in invoking Heaven's forgiveness.
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