“I never committed murder, sir,” said he, in an improved tone.  “It wasn’t allowed on board of the Avenger, sir.  It’s a hard case that a fellow should be made a pirate by force, and then be scragged for it, though he’s done none o’ the bloody work.”

“This may be true,” rejoined the lieutenant; “but, as I have said, you will find it difficult to convince your judges of it.  But you will receive a fair trial.  There is one thing, however, that will stand in your favor, and that is a full and free confession.  If you make this, and give me all the information you can in order to bring your late comrades to justice, your judges will perhaps be disposed to view your case leniently.”

“Wot more can I confess, sir?” said Dick, beginning to look a little more interested.  “I’ve already confessed that I was made a pirate against my will, and that I’ve never done no murder; though I have plundered a little, just like the rest.  As for helpin’ to bring my comrades to justice, I only wish as I know’d how, and I’d do it right off, I would.”

Surly Dick’s expression of countenance when he said this was a sufficient guarantee that he was in earnest.

“There is an island somewhere hereabout,” said the lieutenant, “where the pirates are in the habit of hiding sometimes, is there not?”

Surly Dick looked at his questioner slyly, as he replied, “There is, sir.”

“Do you not think it very likely that they may have run there now,—­that they may be there at this moment?”

“It’s oncommon likely,” replied Dick, with a grin.

“Can you direct me how to steer, in order to reach that island?”

Surly Dick’s aspect changed.  He became morose again, and looked silently at his feet for a few moments, as if he were debating something in his own mind.  He was, in truth, perplexed; for, while he was extremely anxious to bring his hated comrades to justice, he was by no means so anxious to let the lieutenant into the secret of the treasures contained in the caverns of the Isle of Palms, all of which he knew would be at once swept hopelessly beyond his grasp if they should be discovered.  He also reflected that if he could only manage to get his late companions comfortably hanged, and himself set free for having turned King’s evidence against them, he could return to the island and abstract the wealth it contained by degrees.  The brilliant prospect thus opened up to him was somewhat marred, however, by the consideration that some of the pirates might make a confession and let this secret be known, in which case his golden dreams would vanish.  The difficulty of making up his mind was so great that he continued for some time to twist his fingers and move his feet uneasily in silence.

Mulroy observed the pirate’s indecision, and, although he knew not its cause to the he Was sufficiently acquainted with human nature to know that now was the moment to overcome the man, if he was to be overcome at all.