If  Clifford  cannot  spare  hia  liiends  an  oath.' "


THE  PIRATE.  309

"  I  prithee  peace,  and  be  gone  !  "  said  Cleveland ;
"  I  have  one  bosom  friend  left  yet,  and  you  will
make  me  bestow  its  contents  on  you,  or  on  myself."

"  I  have  it ! "  said  Bunce,  "  I  have  it ! "  and  on  he
went  in  the  vein  of  Jaffier  —

"  '  Then,  by  the  hell  I  merit,  I'll  not  leave  thee,
Till  to  thyself  at  least  thou'rt  reconciled,
However  thy  resentment  deal  with  me  ! '  "

"  I  pray  you  once  more  to  be  silent,"  said  Cleve-
land —  "  Is  it  not  enough  that  you  have  undone  me
with  your  treachery,  but  you  must  stun  me  with
your  silly  buffoonery  ?  —  I  would  not  have  believed
you  would  have  lifted  a  finger  against  me.  Jack,  of
any  man  or  devil  in  yonder  unhappy  ship."

"  Who,  I  ? "  exclaimed  Bunce,  "  I  lift  a  finger
against  you  !  —  and  if  I  did,  it  was  in  pure  love,  and
to  make  you  the  happiest  fellow  that  ever  trode  a
deck,  with  your  mistress  beside  you,  and  fifty  fine
fellows  at  your  command.  Here  is  Dick  Fletcher
can  bear  witness  I  did  all  for  the  best,  if  he  would
but  speak,  instead  of  lolloping  there  like  a  Dutch
dogger  laid  up  to  be  careened.  —  Get  up,  Dick,  and
speak  for  me,  won't  you  ?  "

"  Why,  yes.  Jack  Bunce,"  answered  Fletcher,
raising  himself  with  difficulty,  and  speaking  feebly,
"  I  will  if  I  can  —  and  I  always  knew  you  spoke
and  did  for  the  best  —  but  howsomdever,  d'ye  see,
it  has  turned  out  for  the  worst  for  me  this  time,  for
I  am  bleeding  to  death,  I  think."

"  You  cannot  be  such  an  ass  !  "  said  Jack  Bunce,
springing  to  his  assistance,  as  did  Cleveland.  But
human  aid  came  too  late  —  he  sunk  back  on  the
bed,  and,  turning  on  his  face,  expired  without  a
groan.
