LEAVES FROM A LOG. 573 



noon the previous day, in a state of extreme fatigue and indisposi- 

 tion ; " but the poor man is feverish," added the overseer, " and as 

 we have no doctor in the quarter, may I ask you to go and see him, 

 as you understand the treatment of the sick so much better than I do ?" 

 I shewed Fitz-Allen to his chamber, and went to the overseer's house ; 

 a small cottage, about fifty yards from my dwelling, to visit the ship 

 wrecked sailor ; when, judge my astonishment at beholding the very 

 lieutenant of the brigantine, whom I had met on the Orinoco ! He was 

 seated beside the table, on which lay an open bible : his head was rest- 

 ing on his hand, and his looks were cast downwards. On my entrance, 

 he started : and we eyed each other for some seconds with mutual 

 surprise. After a considerable pause, he said : 



"I presume, Sir, I address the master of this estate?" 



" I am the manager." 



" During your absence, that young man, who is now mounting a 

 mule yonder, was kind enough to relieve me, when I arrived yester- 

 day at this plantation in a wretched state, having been shipwrecked 

 down the coast : I therefore trust you will not blame him for this act 

 of humanity." 



I soon satisfied him on that point. 



" Your answer, Sir," he continued, " is such as I might expect from 

 one, who, on our first meeting, acted as you did towards me; but as, 

 during our first interview, you became acquainted with circumstances 

 which render my residence on a place under your charge anything 

 but agreeable, I have too vivid a recollection of your kindness to- 

 wards me to offend you with my presence on this plantation/' He 

 then untied a belt, such as is often worn on the Spanish main, in 

 which was placed a quantity of gold coins ; and said, f< Have the 

 goodness to give these three doubloons to the black sick-nurse and the 

 negro boy that attended me, as they have been extremely kind to me." 



" Put up your money, Sir, I beg. You will I fear have more oc- 

 casion for it than those to whom you wish to give it. And as to your 

 departure hence, I cannot permit it in your present state of health. 

 It is true I could have wished I had seen you in better company than 

 I did at Old Guiana ; but were I to allow you, a sick man, who 

 had been wrecked, to quit this shelter, when there is no house of en- 

 tertainment within miles of mine, I should not easily forgive myself: 

 even did I not (as I do) know that of you which convinces me you 

 are not lost to all feelings of humanity." 



" I am, I am," he wildly said, " lost to all humanity ! Lost 

 here, and hereafter !" He struck his head violently ; a custom- 

 ary action of his when agitated. 



" Say not so : that holy volume, which you appear to have been 

 perusing of late, will tell you better things. You have confided to 

 rne that you suffer remorse : and he who feels the throes of con- 

 science, need not despair of becoming penitent." 



" I have not been perusing that sacred volume : I only opened it, 

 and see what first presented itself to my eyes." He pointed to the 

 top of the page which bore this (in his case) remarkable passage, 

 " for all they that take the sword, shall perish by the sword/' 



'* That expression was made use of to an armed man as a warning," 



