"Mercy, mercy," cried Vanslyperken, again falling on his knees, and holding up his hands.
"Call upon Heaven for mercy, you have but one minute left."
But here an interruption took place.
A female made her appearance on the other side of the deck, dragging, by a cord, the hero of our novel, Snarleyyow, who held back with all his power, jerking his head to the right and to the left, but it was of no use, he was dragged opposite to where Vanslyperken knelt. As the reader may guess, this person was Smallbones, who had tied on a bonnet, and muffled up his face, so as not to be observed when he first went on board. Jemmy Ducks now assisted, and the whip on the larboard yard-arm was made fast to a cord with a running noose, for the hanging of the cur.
The sight roused Vanslyperken. "My dog!" exclaimed he, "woman, leave that dog alone--who are you that dare touch my dog?"
The female turned round, threw off her bonnet and handkerchief and exhibited to the terrified lieutenant, the face of the supposed departed Smallbones.
"Smallbones!" exclaimed the crew of the Yungfrau in a breath.
"God of mercy--help me, God of mercy!" cried Vanslyperken, aghast.
"I suppose that you do come for to go to know me now, anyhow," said Smallbones.
"Hath the sea given up its dead?" replied Vanslyperken, in a hollow voice.