as I clutched the gunwale to prevent my falling into the sea. He watched me narrowly, and in a moment righted the yacht. "'We were near Davy Jones's locker there?' he said coolly. "'We wouldn't remain long together,' I replied. "'How?' "'Well, you know, you'd go a little deeper, and I should hope I would get a little higher.' "'You mean I'd have gone to Hell?' "'Certainly,' I replied. "'I'm not a bad man,' he said, taken aback. "'You are,' I replied; 'you persecute the poor and drag their faces through the dust. You're an irreligious man, because you never kneel to God; you're a dishonest man, because you profess to belong to a faith whose doctrines you do not accept, and whose commands you disobey.' "'Hallo, there!' said he, 'I'm not used to this kind of language.' "'Perhaps not,' I said; for with the thorough drenching and the fright I was now thoroughly angry. 'But you'll have to listen to it. You cannot put your fingers in your ears and steer the _Halcyone_. It will take us an hour to reach land, and you must hear what you never heard before.' "'I've a strong inclination,' he said, 'to pitch you overboard.' "'I'm quite sure you're perfectly capable of murder,' I said. 'But again, you cannot let go the ropes in this gale. Besides, there are two sides to that question.' "Then and there I pitched into him, told him how he was breaking his child's heart, how he was hated all along the coast, etc., etc.; but I insisted especially on his dishonesty in professing a creed which he denied in daily practice. I was thoroughly angry, and gave my passion full swing. He listened without a word as we went shoreward. At last he said: "'By Jove! I never thought that a priest could speak to a gentleman so boldly. Now, that damned old landlubber'--I beg your pardon, sir," broke in my curate, "the words escaped me involuntarily." "Never mind," I said, "go on." "But it was very disrespectful--" "Now, I insist on hearing every word he said. Why, that's the cream of the story." "Well, he said: 'That damned old landlubber and bookworm never addressed me in that manner,'--but perhaps he meant some one else." "Never fear! He meant his respected old pastor. The 'landlubber' might apply to other natives; but I fear they could hardly be called 'bookworm' with any degree of consistency. But go on." "Well, you know, he spoke rather jerkily, and as if in soliloquy. 'Well, I never!' 'Who'd have thought it from this sleek fellow?' 'Why, I thought butter would not melt in his mouth!' 'What will Bittra say when I tell her?' At last we pulled into the creek; I jumped ashore from the dingey, as well as my dripping clothes would let me, and lifting my hat, without a word, I walked towards home. He called after me:-- "'One word, Father Letheby! You must come up to the house and dry yourself. You'll catch your death of cold.' "'Oh! 't will be nothing,' I said. He had come up with me, and looked humbled and crestfallen.