“To counteract these evils I had four things, namely:—
“1st. Life.
“2d. The clothes on my back.
“3d. A jack-knife.
“4th. The mercy of Providence.
“And this was all! What chance was there for me?
“Little enough, one would think. And, in truth, there did not seem to be any at all. When I thought of all this, I buried my face in my hands, and moaned aloud, and the big tears began to gather in my eyes.”
“O, wasn’t it awful!” exclaimed William.
“I don’t see what you could do, Captain Hardy,” exclaimed Fred.