"I will now tell you the truth. I did tell the truth up to the time of
your father and mother's embarkation on board of the brig, up to when
the gale of wind came on which occasioned eventually the loss of the
ship. Now give me a little drink.
"The vessel was so tossed by the storm, and the waves broke over her so
continually, that the between-decks were full of water, and as the
hatches were kept down, the heat was most oppressive. When it was not
my watch, I remained below, and looked out for another berth to sleep
in. Before the cabin bulkheads on the starboard side, the captain had
fitted up a sort of sail-room to contain the spare sails in case we
should require them. It was about eight feet square, and the sails were
piled up in it, so as to reach within two feet of the deck overhead;
though the lower ones were wetted with the water, above they were dry,
and I took this berth on the top of the sails as my sleeping-place. Now
the state-room in which your father and mother slept was on the other
side of the cabin bulkhead, and the straining and rolling of the vessel
had opened the chinks between the planks, so that I could see a great
deal of what was done in the state-room, and could hear every word
almost that was spoken by them. I was not aware of this when I selected
this place as my berth, but I found it out on the first night, the light
of the candle shining through the chinks into the darkness by which I
was surrounded outside. Of course, it is when a man is alone with his
wife that he talks on confidential subjects; that I knew well, and hoped
by listening to be able to make some discovery;--what, I had no idea of;
but, with the bad feelings which stimulated me, I determined not to lose
an opportunity. It was not till about a week after I had selected this
berth, that I made any discovery. I had had the watch from six to eight
o'clock, and had gone to bed early. About nine o'clock your father came
into the state-room. Your mother was already in bed. As your father
undressed, your mother said, `Does not that belt worry you a great deal,
my dear?'
"`No,' replied your father, `I am used to it now; it did when I first
put it on, but now I have had it on four days, I do not feel it. I
shall keep it on as long as this weather lasts; there is no saying what
may happen, and it will not do to be looking for the belt at a moment's
warning.'
"`Do you think then that we are in danger?'
"`No, not particularly so, but the storm is very fierce, and the vessel
is old and weak. We may have fine weather in a day or two, or we may
not; at all events, when property of value is at stake, and that
property not my own, I should feel myself very culpable, if I did not
take every precaution.'
"`Well--I wish we were safe home again, my dear, and that my father had
his diamonds, but we are in the hands of God.'
"`Yes, I must trust to Him,' replied your father.
"This circumstance induced me to look through one of the chinks of the
bulkhead, so that I could see your father, and I perceived that he was
unbuckling a belt which was round his body, and which no doubt contained
the diamonds referred to. It was of soft leather, and about eight
inches wide, sewed lengthways and breadthways in small squares, in
which, I presumed the diamonds were deposited. After a time your mother
spoke again.
"`I really think, Henniker, that I ought to wear the belt.'
"`Why so, my dear?'
"`Because it might be the means of my preservation in case of accident.
Suppose, now, we were obliged to abandon the vessel and take to the
boats; a husband, in his hurry, might forget his wife, but he would not
forget his diamonds. If I wore the belt, you would be certain to put me
in the boat.'
"`That observation of yours would have force with some husbands, and
some wives,' retorted your father; `but as I have a firm belief in the
Scriptures, it does not affect me. What do the Proverbs say? "The
price of a virtuous woman is far above rubies;" and a good ruby is worth
even more in the market than a diamond of the same size.'
"`Well, I must comfort myself with that idea,' replied your mother,
laughing.
"`Supposing we be thrown upon some out-of-the-way place,' said your
father, `I shall then commit the belt to your charge. It might soon be
discovered on my person, whereas, on yours, it would stand every chance
of being long concealed. I say this because, even in a desert, it would
be dangerous to have it known by unscrupulous and unprincipled men that
any one had so much wealth about him.'
"`Well,' replied your mother, `that is also comfortable for me to hear,
for you will not leave me behind, because I shall be necessary to
conceal your treasure.'
"`Yes,' replied your father, laughing, `there is another chance for you,
you see.'
"Your father then extinguished the light, and the conversation was not
renewed; but I had heard enough. Your father carried a great treasure
about his person--wealth, I took it for granted, that if I once could
obtain, and return to England, would save me from my present position.
My avarice was hereby excited, and thus another passion equally
powerful, and equally inciting to evil deeds, was added to the hate
which I already had imbibed for your father. But I must leave off now."
Jackson drank a little more, and then remained quiet, and as I had no
food that day, I took the opportunity of returning to the cabin, with
the promise that I would be back very soon. In half an hour I returned,
bringing with me the Bible and Prayer-book, as I thought that he would
ask me to read to him after he had made his confession. I found him
breathing heavily, and apparently asleep, so I did not wake him. As I
looked at him, and recalled to mind his words, "Am not I an object of
pity?" I confessed that he was, and then I asked myself the question,
Can you forgive him who was the murderer of your father? After some
reflection, I thought that I could. Was he not already punished? Had
not the murder been already avenged? It was not possible to retain
animosity against one so stricken, so broken to pieces, and my heart
smote me when I looked at his disabled hand, and felt that I, boy as I
was, had had a share in his marring. At last, he spoke.
"Are you there, Frank?"
"Yes," replied I.
"I have had a little sleep," said he.
"Do you feel easier?" inquired I, kindly.
"Yes, I feel my side more numbed, and so it will remain, till
mortification takes place. But let me finish my confession, I wish to
relieve my mind; not that I shall die to-night, or perhaps to-morrow,
but still, I wish it over. Come nearer to me, that I may speak in a
lower voice, and then I shall be able to speak longer."