The girl rose, and, going to a drawer, quickly returned with a small red leather case in her hand.  It was the identical jewel case that Swankie had found on the dead body at the Bell Rock!

“Ah! that’s it; now, let us see; let us see.”  He laid aside his pipe, and for some time felt all his pockets, and looked round the room, as if in search of something.

“What are you looking for, uncle?”

“The specs, lass; these specs’ll be the death o’ me.”

Minnie laughed.  “They’re on your brow, uncle!”

“So they are!  Well, well——­”

The captain smiled deprecatingly, and, drawing his chair close to the table, began to examine the box.

Its contents were a strange mixture, and it was evident that the case had not been made to hold them.

There was a lady’s gold watch, of very small size, and beautifully formed; a set of ornaments, consisting of necklace, bracelets, ring, and ear-rings of turquoise and pearls set in gold, of the most delicate and exquisite chasing; also, an antique diamond cross of great beauty, besides a number of rings and bracelets of considerable value.

As the captain took these out one by one, and commented on them, he made use of Minnie’s pretty hand and arm to try the effect of each, and truly the ornaments could not have found a more appropriate resting-place among the fairest ladies of the land.

Minnie submitted to be made use of in this, way with a pleased and amused expression; for, while she greatly admired the costly gems, she could not help smiling at the awkwardness of the captain in putting them on.

“Read the paper again,” said Minnie, after the contents of the box had been examined.

The captain took up a small parcel covered with oiled cloth, which contained a letter.  Opening it, he began to read, but was interrupted by Mrs. Brand, who had paid little attention to the jewels.

“Read it out loud, brother,” said she, “I don’t hear you well.  Read it out; I love to hear of my darling’s gallant deeds.”

The captain cleared his throat, raised his voice, and read slowly:—­

“’LISBON, 10th March, 1808.

“’DEAR CAPTAIN BRAND,—­I am about to quit this place for the East in a few days, and shall probably never see you again.  Pray accept the accompanying case of jewels as a small token of the love and esteem in which you are held by a heart-broken father.  I feel assured that if it had been in the power of man to have saved my drowning child your gallant efforts would have been successful.  It was ordained otherwise; and I now pray that I may be enabled to say “God’s will be done”.  But I cannot bear the sight of these ornaments.  I have no relatives—­none at least who deserve them half so well as yourself.  Do not pain me by refusing them.  They may be of use to you if you are ever in want of money, being worth, I believe, between three and four hundred pounds.  Of course, you cannot misunderstand my motive in mentioning this.  No amount of money could in any measure represent the gratitude I owe to the man who risked his life to save my child.  May God bless you, sir.”