"Don't grant it, if you think it is not correct;" and Mr. Pillgrim minutely detailed the evidence which could be brought to bear against him. Somers appeared to be overwhelmed by this array of testimony. He groaned, looked hopeless, and finally granted the traitor's position in full. "I am in your power. Do with me as you will. Of course the moment I put my foot on a rebel deck I am ruined." "You can do as you please about going into the Confederate service. What I want of you will not compromise you as a loyal man in the slightest degree." "What do you want of me?" "Not quite so loud, if you please, Mr. Somers," said the lieutenant, glancing at the door. "To me, Somers, you have been a thorn. You lost me the Snowden, and the valuable cargo of the Theban." "I only did my duty," pleaded Somers. "Bah! don't use that word to me again. Through you a fortune slipped through my fingers. I should have got the Snowden into Wilmington, if you had not meddled with the matter. I have lost eighty thousand dollars by you." "Of course I had no ill will against you personally." "Very true; if you had, you would have been a dead man before this time. Phil Kennedy was a fool, but he was my best friend. I have his bond for forty thousand dollars, which is waste paper just now. Phil fell by your hand." "It was in fair fight." "Nonsense! What matter is it to me how he fell, whether it was in fair fight or foul? He is dead; that is all." "What has all this to do with me?" asked Somers, with seeming impatience. "Much, my dear fellow. Phil was to marry Kate Portington; was to pocket her fortune. You have cut him out. You will marry her, and in due time come into possession of a million. The commodore is apoplectic, and will not live many years. Do you see my point?" "I do not," answered Somers, disgusted with this heartless statement. "As you cheated me out of the Snowden, as you killed Phil Kennedy, as you will marry Kate Portington, I propose that you assume and pay Phil's bond." "I?" "Certainly--you; Mr. Somers; Kate's prodigy," laughed Pillgrim. "Never!" exclaimed Somers, jumping to his feet. "You speak too loud, Mr. Somers." "Am I a dog, or a snake, or a toad, that I should do such an unclean thing?" The traitor took from his pocket the oath of allegiance, opened it, and in silence thrust it into his companion's face. "I have sold myself." "You have, Somers. Think of it. If I have to make out a case against you, of course you will never see Kate again. Let me add, that the commodore sets his life by me. We were old friends before the war. You may marry his daughter with my consent, but not without it." "I never thought of such a thing." "Perhaps not. We waste time. Will you sign the bond?" "The bond is good for nothing. No court--" "That is my affair. If you agree to it, I will run all risks. I trouble no courts. If you don't pay, I have only to speak, and hang you then." "I am lost," groaned Somers.