He suddenly raised himself into a sitting position, and the increasing daylight, that streamed through the stern windows, and the scuttle overhead, showed that he was paler than ever; the ague of his lip increased, and his whole frame trembled violently, as he said in a weak nervous voice--"Mr De Walden, did you say? what of him? You just now said _none_ of the young gentlemen were either killed or wounded." And he looked first at Sprawl, then at Dick, and lastly at me, but all of us were so taken aback by such unusual and unaccountable conduct, that for a second or two we could make no answer. At length Lanyard rallied his wits about him. "You are right, sir, none of the midshipmen were hurt, but Mr de Walden"---- "Mr de Walden again!--what can you mean? Speak out, for the love of mercy"--and he seized his arm, and then shrunk away again, and held up his hand, as if he could not stand the hearing of what he might utter. "Don't say it, Mr Lanyard; don't, if you regard me, say it;" and he lay back, and held both hands on his eyes, and sobbed audibly. Sprawl and I again exchanged looks, but neither of us could find it in our hearts to speak. At length the old man made a violent effort at composure,--"Gentlemen, you will pardon me; disease has broken me down, and fairly unhinged me; and I could, as you see, cry like a woman. I had, indeed, a very peculiar cause for loving that poor boy, I fancy, God help me"--here the large tears streamed over his old cheeks, that had stood the washing up of many a salt spray--"that I see him now!" "Where?" said I, like honest Horatio, somewhat startled. He did not notice the interruption. "I believe he had not an enemy in the world; I am sure he will be lamented by every man and officer in the ship, poor young fellow. But come, gentlemen, enough and to spare of this"--and he rose up, and strode across the cabin, speaking with a forced composure, as we could easily perceive. "We must all die, in a sick bed or in action--either on shore or at sea; and those who, like him, fall while fighting gallantly, are better off than others who drag through a tedious and painful disease. This is trite talking, gentlemen; but it is true--God's will be done! Peace be with him, poor boy; peace be with him." Thinking he was mad, I several times tried to break in, and disburden my mind of the whole story; but he always waved me down impatiently, and continued to walk backwards and forwards very impetuously. At length he made a full stop, and looked earnestly in the first lieutenant's face--"He behaved gallantly, and died nobly?--all his wounds in the front?" I could allow this to go on no longer. "Why, Sir Oliver, young De Walden is not killed, so far as we know." He gasped--caught my arm convulsively--and burst into a weak hysterical laugh--"Not dead?" "No, sir; none of us can say that he is dead. He did indeed behave most gallantly through the whole affair; but"----