“Amen, sir.  At least there would have been many a tear spared to us and ours.  For—­as all must out—­in that bark of Lima he took a young lady, as fair as the sunshine, sir, and seemingly about two or three-and-twenty years of age, having with her a tall young lad of sixteen, and a little girl, a marvellously pretty child, of about a six or seven.  And the lady herself was of an excellent beauty, like a whale’s tooth for whiteness, so that all the crew wondered at her, and could not be satisfied with looking upon her.  And, gentlemen, this was strange, that the lady seemed in no wise afraid or mournful, and bid her little girl fear naught, as did also Mr. Oxenham:  but the lad kept a very sour countenance, and the more when he saw the lady and Mr. Oxenham speaking together apart.

“Well, sir, after this good luck we were minded to have gone straight back to the river whence we came, and so home to England with all speed.  But Mr. Oxenham persuaded us to return to the island, and get a few more pearls.  To which foolishness (which after caused the mishap) I verily believe he was moved by the instigation of the devil and of that lady.  For as we were about to go ashore, I, going down into the cabin of the prize, saw Mr. Oxenham and that lady making great cheer of each other with, ‘My life,’ and ‘My king,’ and ‘Light of my eyes,’ and such toys; and being bidden by Mr. Oxenham to fetch out the lady’s mails, and take them ashore, heard how the two laughed together about the old ape of Panama (which ape, or devil rather, I saw afterwards to my cost), and also how she said that she had been dead for five years, and now that Mr. Oxenham was come, she was alive again, and so forth.

“Mr. Oxenham bade take the little maid ashore, kissing her and playing with her, and saying to the lady, ’What is yours is mine, and what is mine is yours.’  And she asking whether the lad should come ashore, he answered, ’He is neither yours nor mine; let the spawn of Beelzebub stay on shore.’  After which I, coming on deck again, stumbled over that very lad, upon the hatchway ladder, who bore so black and despiteful a face, that I verily believe he had overheard their speech, and so thrust him upon deck; and going below again, told Mr. Oxenham what I thought, and said that it were better to put a dagger into him at once, professing to be ready so to do.  For which grievous sin, seeing that it was committed in my unregenerate days, I hope I have obtained the grace of forgiveness, as I have that of hearty repentance.  But the lady cried out, ‘Though he be none of mine, I have sin enough already on my soul;’ and so laid her hand on Mr. Oxenham’s mouth, entreating pitifully.  And Mr. Oxenham answered laughing, when she would let him, ’What care we? let the young monkey go and howl to the old one;’ and so went ashore with the lady to that house, whence for three days he never came forth, and would have remained longer, but that the men, finding but few pearls, and being wearied with the watching and warding so many Spaniards, and negroes came clamoring to him, and swore that they would return or leave him there with the lady.  So all went on board the pinnace again, every one in ill humor with the captain, and he with them.