To have this told him, and to be opposed in such a manner, was more than my lord paramount had been used to.  He turned fiercely upon me, and tried to look me down, and face me out of my statement; but finding that that wouldn’t do, and that I was entering upon my defence in such a way as would show to the other two that he was in the wrong, he changed his ground, and pointed to the shipping-papers of the Pilgrim, from which my name had never been erased, and said that there was my name,—­ that I belonged to her,—­ that he had an absolute discretionary power,—­ and, in short, that I must be on board the Pilgrim by the next morning with my chest and hammock, or have some one ready to go in my place, and that he would not hear another word from me.  No court of star chamber could proceed more summarily with a poor devil than this trio was about to do with me; condemning me to a punishment worse than a Botany Bay exile, and to a fate which might alter the whole current of my future life; for two years more in California might have made me a sailor for the rest of my days.  I felt all this, and saw the necessity of being determined.  I repeated what I had said, and insisted upon my right to return in the ship.

   ``I raised my arm, and tauld my crack,
     Before them a’.’’

But it would have all availed me nothing had I been ``some poor body’’ before this absolute, domineering tribunal.  But they saw that I would not go, unless ``vi et armis,’’ and they knew that I had friends and interest enough at home to make them suffer for any injustice they might do me.  It was probably this that turned the scale; for the captain changed his tone entirely, and asked me if, in case any one went in my place, I would give him the same sum that Stimson gave Harris to exchange with him.  I told them that if any one was sent on board the brig I should pity him, and be willing to help him to that, or almost any amount; but would not speak of it as an exchange.

``Very well,’’ said he. ``Go forward about your business, and send English Ben here to me!’’

I went forward with a light heart, but feeling as much anger and contempt as I could well contain between my teeth.  English Ben was sent aft, and in a few moments came forward, looking as though he had received his sentence to be hanged.  The captain had told him to get his things ready to go on board the brig next morning; and that I would give him thirty dollars and a suit of clothes.  The hands had ``knocked off’’ for dinner, and were standing about the forecastle, when Ben came forward and told his story.  I could see plainly that it made a great excitement, and that, unless I explained the matter to them, the feeling would be turned against me.  Ben was a poor English boy, a stranger in Boston, and without friends or money; and, being an active, willing lad, and a good sailor for his years, was a general favorite. ``O yes!’’ said the crew; ``the captain has let you off because you