At this last sarcasm, the anger of Erebus exceeded all bounds, and he seized Trimalcyon by the throat and drew on him a knife that he had taken from the table. But for the iron grasp of Pog, which held the youth’s hand like a vice, the fat pirate would have been dangerously wounded, if not killed. “By Eblis and his black wings! Captain, take care! If you are provoked at the blow I was about to give that hog, then I will address myself to you!” cried Erebus, trying to free himself from Pog’s hands. Swan-skin and Orangine escaped, shrieking with terror. “See what it is to spoil children,” said Pog, with a disdainful smile, as he released the hand of Erebus. “And to allow them to play with knives,” replied Trimalcyon, picking up the knife that Erebus had let fall in the struggle. A look from Pog warned him that he must not push the young man too far. “Do you wish to kill the one who has brought you up, dear child?” said Pog, sarcastically. “Come, you have your dagger in your belt, strike.” Erebus looked at him with a surly air, and said, with an angry sneer: “It is in the name of gratitude, then, that you ask me to spare your life? Then why have you preached to me the forgetfulness of benefits and the remembrance of injuries?” Notwithstanding his impudence, Trimalcyon looked at Pog in amazement, not knowing how his companion would reply to that question. Pog gave Erebus a look of withering contempt, as he said to him: “I wished to test you, when I spoke of gratitude. Yes, the truly brave man forgets all benefits, and only remembers injuries. I offered you the most outrageous insult, I told you that you did not have the courage to avenge the death of your parents. You ought to have struck me at once,--but you are a coward.” [Illustration: Pog, calm and unmoved, opened his breast] Erebus quickly drew his dagger and raised it over the pirate before Trimalcyon could take a step. Pog, calm and unmoved, opened his breast without a sign of emotion. Twice Erebus raised his arm, twice he let it fall again. He could not make up his mind to strike a defenceless man. He bowed his head with a sorrowful air. Pog sat down again and said to Erebus, in a severe and imperious voice: