It was on his return home this time that, as old Nanny had told me, he had taken to gaming, and eventually had robbed his mother.  With the two thousand pounds in his pocket, he had repaired to Liverpool, where he fell in with Fitzgerald, a young man who had served as first mate in the vessel in which they had cruised on the Spanish Main, and to him he had proposed to join him as first officer in the vessel which he was about to fit out.  It appeared that this young man had but a few days returned from Ireland, where he had married a young woman, to whom he had been some time attached, and that his disinclination to leave his young wife made him at first refuse the offer made by Spicer.  Spicer, however, who was aware of his value, would not lose sight of him, and contrived, when Fitzgerald had taken too much wine, to win of him, by unfair means, about one thousand five hundred pounds.  Spicer then offered Fitzgerald a release from the debt, provided he would sail with him; and he exacted as a further condition that he should not return and take a farewell of his wife.  To these harsh terms Fitzgerald, being without means of liquidating the debt, consented, and they sailed accordingly.

“And now, Jack, I will tell you why I was so curious about that spy-glass.  I knew the moment that I saw it in your hands that it was one that belonged to Fitzgerald when we were on our first cruise together.  It was the best glass I ever met with.  When we left Liverpool this time, I asked him for the spy-glass, and he told me that, expecting to return to his wife before he sailed, he had left it at home.  How it came into the lady’s hands I can’t tell.”

“I never said that Lady Hercules gave it to me,” replied I; “although I did not undeceive you when you thought so.  The fact is, it was given me by a very pretty young Irish widow.”

“Then, Jack, I should not wonder if she was the wife of Fitzgerald, whom I have been talking about; but that I leave to you.  Let me finish my story.  When we arrived on the Spanish coast I had as fine a crew with me as ever were on board of a vessel; but I had long made up my mind that I would hoist the black flag.  Yes, Jack, it is but too true.  But when I proposed it, Fitzgerald declared that the first act of piracy that was committed he would leave the vessel.  I tried all I could to persuade him, but in vain.  However, we did take an English vessel, and plundered her.  Upon this Fitzgerald protested, and half the crew, at least, joined him.  I threatened the men to shoot them through the head; but they were resolute; and, being rather the stronger party, I dared not make any attempt.  They insisted upon leaving the vessel; and I, not being able to help it, landed them all in the Bay of Honduras, where I thought it very possible they would be taken by the Spaniards and imprisoned, if not hanged.  They were imprisoned; but, after some time, they were released.  The desertion of Fitzgerald and the other men left me with