"Corporal," said Smallbones, who, since the glass of grog, was his sincere ally, and had quite forgotten and forgiven his treatment, "go down and see if you can't worm the truth out of him." "Ay, do, do!" exclaimed the rest. "Smallbones--Smallbones--wanted aft," was the next summons. "And here I go," exclaimed Smallbones. "I defy the devil and all his works--as we said on Sunday at the workhouse." "That lad's a prime bit of stuff," observed Spurey, "I will say that." "Yes," replied Short. In a few seconds Smallbones came hastily up the ladder. "Corporal, you must go to the cabin directly. He is in a devil of a rage--asked me why you wouldn't come--told him that you had seen something dreadful--didn't know what. Tell him you saw the devil at his elbow--see if it frightens him." "Yes, do," exclaimed the others. Corporal Van Spitter made up his mind; he pulled down the skirts of his jacket, descended the ladder, and walked aft into the cabin. At the sight of Snarleyyow, the corporal turned pale--at the sight of the corporal, Mr Vanslyperken turned red. "What's the meaning of all this?" exclaimed Vanslyperken, in a rage. "What is all this about, corporal? Explain your conduct, sir. What made you rush out of the cabin in that strange manner?" "Mein Gott, Mynheer Vanslyperken, I came for orders; but I no come keep company wid de tyfel." "With the devil! what do you mean?" exclaimed Vanslyperken, alarmed. The corporal, perceiving that the lieutenant was frightened, then entered into a detail, that when he had entered the cabin he had seen the devil sitting behind Mr Vanslyperken, looking over his shoulder, and grinning with his great eyes while he patted him over the back with his left hand and fondled the dog with his right. This invention of the corporal's, whom Mr Vanslyperken considered as a stanch friend and incapable of treachery, had a great effect upon Mr Vanslyperken. It immediately rushed into his mind that he had attempted murder but a few days before, and that, that very day he had been a traitor to his country--quite sufficient for the devil to claim him as his own. "Corporal Van Spitter," exclaimed Vanslyperken, with a look of horror, "are you really in earnest, or are you not in your senses--you really saw him?" "As true as I stand here," replied the corporal, who perceived his advantage. "Then the Lord be merciful to me a sinner!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, falling on his knees, at the moment forgetting the presence of the corporal; and then recollecting himself, he jumped up--"It is false, Corporal Van Spitter--false as you are yourself: confess," continued the lieutenant, seizing the corporal by the collar, "confess, that it is all a lie." "A lie!" exclaimed the corporal, who now lost his courage, "a lie, Mynheer Vanslyperken! If it was not the tyfel himself it was one of his imps, I take my Bible oath."