Our misfortunes draw a train of shadows behind them; but they often project a glowing light before them. Sickness is often preceded by the most bounding health, failure by unexampled success, misery by irrepressible emotions of exultation. Too bright a sunshine as well as too dark a shadow is often the herald of a storm upon the sea of life. But ebullitions of happiness and confidence did not excite the apprehension of the quack. Each bumper of wine was followed by a new outburst of vanity. The captain and the mate had already succumbed to the potent influence of the liquors which they had been drinking, and amidst his maudlin speeches the quack's tongue was becoming hopelessly tangled. The judge was as sober as at the beginning of the feast and with a smile upon his lips in which cynicism was incarnate, waited until the doctor had just begun to snore and then aroused him by another question. "Who is this paragon of virtue to whom you so confidently trust the chastity of your wife?" "This w-w-what?" "This paragon of virtue--this ice-cold Adonis?" "Say whatcher mean." "Who is this pure young man with whom the beautiful Pepeeta is so safe? What is it you call him, David Crocker?" "'Tain't his real name." "What is his real name?" "D'n I ever t-t-tell you?" "No." "Real name's C-C-Corson--David Corson." "What?" cried the judge, springing to his feet. "C-C-Corson--I tell you," stuttered the quack, too drunk to notice the peculiar effect of his announcement. "What do you know about him?" the judge asked with ill-suppressed excitement. "Keep still--wan' go sleep." "Wake up and tell me what you know about him, I say." "He' Squaker." "A Quaker?" "Yes, Squaker." "Great heavens!" speaking under his breath and trembling visibly. "What else do you know?" "Illegitimate child." "What?" passing around the table, seizing him by the collar and shaking him. "Say that again." "'S true--s' help me! What you c-c-care?" "How do you know he is an illegitimate child--I say?" "I know--that's nuf! Sh'tup and lemme g-g-go sleep." "Tell me, curse you!" shaking him until his teeth rattled. He was too far gone to answer and fell under the table. The judge kicked him, and with a muttered curse took up a glass of whisky, and tossing it down his throat, hurriedly left the cabin, and began to pace the deck in violent agitation. This man who had so ruthlessly set a pitfall for his neighbor had suddenly tumbled into one which retributive justice had dug deep for himself!