lineaments first of one and then of the other。 He looked at them
very carefully for a long while； with the closest and most intent
scrutiny； and in perfect silence。 〃They are both as dead；〃 says
he； 〃as Davy Jones； and； whoever you be； I protest that you have
done your business the most completest that I ever saw in all of
my life。〃
Indeed；〃 cried Jonathan； in the same shrill and panting voice；
〃it was themselves who did it。 First one of them attacked me and
then the other； and I did but try to keep them from murdering me。
This one fell on his knife； and that one shot himself in his
efforts to destroy me。〃
〃That；〃 says the seaman； 〃you may very well tell to a dry…lander；
and maybe he will believe you； but you cannot so easily pull the
wool over the eyes of Captain Benny Willitts。 And what； if I may
be so bold as for to ask you； was the reason for their attacking
so harmless a man as you proclaim yourself to be？〃
〃That I know not；〃 cried Jonathan； 〃but I am entirely willing to
tell thee all the circumstances。 Thou must know that I am a
member of the Society of Friends。 This day I landed here in
Kingston； and met a young woman of very comely appearance； who
intrusted me with this little ivory ball； which she requested me
to keep for her a few days。 The sight of this ballin which I
can detect nothing that could be likely to arouse any feelings of
violenceappears to have driven these two men entirely mad； so
that they instantly made the most ferocious and murderous assault
upon me。 See！ wouldst thou have believed that so small a thing as
this would have caused so much trouble？〃 And as he spoke he held
up to the gaze of the other the cause of the double tragedy that
had befallen。 But no sooner had Captain Willitts's eyes lighted
upon the ball than the most singular change passed over his
countenance。 The color appeared to grow dull and yellow in his
ruddy cheeks； his fat lips dropped apart； and his eyes stared
with a fixed and glassy glare。 He arose to his feet and； still
with the expression of astonishment and wonder upon his face；
gazed first at our hero and then at the ivory ball in his hands；
as though he were deprived both of reason and of speech。 At last；
as our hero slipped the trifle back in his pocket again； the
mariner slowly recovered himself； though with a prodigious
effort； and drew a deep and profound breath as to the very bottom
of his lungs。 He wiped； with the corner of his black silk cravat；
his brow； upon which the sweat appeared to have gathered。 〃Well；
messmate；〃 says he； at last； with a sudden change of voice； 〃you
have； indeed； had a most wonderful adventure。〃 Then with another
deep breath： 〃Well； by the blood！ I may tell you plainly that I
am no poor hand at the reading of faces。 Well； I think you to be
honest； and I am inclined to believe every word you tell me。 By
the blood！ I am prodigiously sorry for you； and am inclined to
help you out of your scrape。
〃The first thing to do；〃 he continued； 〃is to get rid of these
two dead men； and that is an affair I believe we shall have no
trouble in handling。 One of them we will wrap up in the carpet
here； and t'other we can roll into yonder bed…curtain。 You shall
carry the one and I the other； and； the harbor being at no great
distance； we can easily bring them thither and tumble them
overboard； and no one will be the wiser of what has happened。 For
your own safety； as you may easily see； you can hardly go away
and leave these objects here to be found by the first…comer； and
to arise up in evidence against you。〃
This reasoning； in our hero's present bewildered state； appeared
to him to be so extremely just that he raised not the least
objection to it。 Accordingly； each of the two silent； voiceless
victims of the evening's occurrences were wrapped into a bundle
that from without appeared to be neither portentous nor terrible
in appearance。
Thereupon； Jonathan shouldering the rug containing the little
gentleman in black； and the sea…captain doing the like for the
other； they presently made their way down the stairs through the
darkness； and so out into the street。 Here the sea…captain became
the conductor of the expedition； and leading the way down several
alleys and along certain by…streetsnow and then stopping to
rest； for the burdens were both heavy and clumsy to carrythey
both came out at last to the harbor front； without any one having
questioned them or having appeared to suspect them of anything
wrong。 At the water…side was an open wharf extending a pretty
good distance out into the harbor。 Thither the captain led the
way and Jonathan followed。 So they made their way out along the
wharf or pier； stumbling now and then over loose boards； until
they came at last to where the water was of a sufficient depth
for their purpose。 Here the captain； bending his shoulders； shot
his burden out into the dark； mysterious waters； and Jonathan；
following his example； did the same。 Each body sank with a sullen
and leaden splash into the element where； the casings which
swathed them becoming loosened； the rug and the curtain rose to
the surface and drifted slowly away with the tide。
As Jonathan stood gazing dully at the disappearance of these last
evidences of his two inadvertent murders； he was suddenly and
vehemently aroused by feeling a pair of arms of enormous strength
flung about him from behind。 In their embrace his elbows were
instantly pinned tight to his side； and he stood for a moment
helpless and astounded； while the voice of the sea…captain；
rumbling in his very ear； exclaimed： 〃Ye bloody； murthering
Quaker； I'll have that ivory ball； or I'll have your life！〃
These words produced the same effect upon Jonathan as though a
douche of cold water had suddenly been flung over him。 He began
instantly to struggle to free himself； and that with a frantic
and vehement violence begotten at once of terror and despair。 So
prodigious were his efforts that more than once he had nearly
torn himself free； but still the powerful arms of his captor held
him as in a vise of iron。 Meantime； our hero's assailant made
frequent though ineffectual attempts to thrust a hand into the
breeches…pocket where the ivory ball was hidden； swearing the
while under his breath with a terrifying and monstrous string of
oaths。 At last； finding himself foiled in every such attempt； and
losing all patience at the struggles of his victim； he endeavored
to lift Jonathan off of his feet； as though to dash him bodily
upon the ground。 In this he would doubtless have succeeded had he
not caught his heel in the crack of a loose board of the wharf。
Instantly they both fell； violently prostrate； the captain
beneath and Jonathan above him； though still encircled in his
iron embrace。 Our hero felt the back of his head strike violently
upon the flat face of the other； and he heard the captain's skull
sound with a terrific crack like that of a breaking egg upon some
post or billet of wood； against which he must have struck。 In
their frantic struggles they had approached extremely near the
edge of the wharf； so that the next instant； with an enormous and
thunderous splash； Jonathan found himself plunged into the waters
of the harbor； and the arms of his assailant loosened from about
his body。
The shock of the water brought him instantly to his senses； and；
being a fairly good swimmer； he had not the least difficulty in
reaching and clutching the cross…piece of a wooden ladder that；
coated with slimy sea…moss； led from the water…level to the wharf
above。
After reaching the safety of the dry land once more； Jonathan
gazed about him as though to discern whence the next attack might
be delivered upon him。 But he stood entirely alone upon the
docknot another living soul was in sight。 The surface of the
water exhibited some commotion； as though disturbed by something
struggling beneath； but the sea…captain； who had doubtless been
stunned by the tremendous crack upon his head； never arose again
out of the element that had engulfed him。
The moonlight shone with a peaceful and resplendent illumination；
and； excepting certain remote noises from the distant town not a
sound broke the silence and the peacefulness of the balmy；
tropical night。 The limpid water； illuminated by the resplendent
moonlight； lapped against the wharf。 All the world was calm；
serene； and enveloped in a profound and entire repose。
Jonathan looked up at the round and brilliant globe of light
floating in the sky above his head； and wondered whether it were；
indeed； possible that all that had befallen him was a reality and
not some tremendous hallucination。 Then suddenly arousing himself
to a renewed realization of that which had occurred； he turned
and ran like one possessed； up along the wharf； and so into the
moonlit town once more。
VI。 The Conclusion of the Adventure with the Lady with the Silver
Veil
Nor did he check his precipitous flight until suddenly； being led
perhaps by some strange influence of which he was not at all the
master； he discovered himself to be standing before the
garden…gate where not more than an hour before he had first
entered upon the series of monstrous adventures that had led to
such tremendous conclusions。
People were still passing and repassing； and one of these
groupsa party of young ladies and gentlemenpaused upon the
opposite side of the street to observe； with no small curiosity
and amusement； his dripping and bedraggled aspect。 But only one
thought and one intention possessed our heroto relieve himself
as quickly as possible of that trust which he had taken up so
thoughtlessly； and with such monstrous results to himself and to
his victims。 He ran to the gate of the garden and began beating
and kicking upon it with a vehemence that he could neither master
nor control。 He was aware that the entire neighborhood was
becoming aroused； for he beheld lights moving and loud voices of
inquiry； yet he gave not the least thought to the disturbance he
was creating； but continued without intermission his uproarious
pounding upon the gate。
At length； in answer to the sound of his vehement blows； the
lit