"'Why,' replied I, 'sarcumstances will make us do what we otherwise
would never think possible. I never was in such a predicament, and
therefore can't tell what people may be brought to do. But tell me,
messmate, what was the name of the poor woman?'

[Illustration: ANDERSON READING THE BIBLE TO JACK.--Marryat, Vol. X., p.
89.]

"'The husband's name was Ben Rivers.'

"'_Rivers_, did you say?' replied I, struck all of a heap.

"'Yes,' replied he; 'that was her name; she was of this town. But never
mind the name--tell me what you think, messmate?'

"'Well,' says I (for I was quite bewildered), 'I'll tell you what, old
fellow--as far as I'm consarned, you have my forgiveness, and now I must
wish you good-by--and I pray to God that we may never meet again.'

"'Stop a little,' said he; 'don't leave me this way. Ah! I see how it
is--you think I'm a murderer.'

"'No, I don't,' replied I; 'not exactly--still, there'll be no harm in
your reading your Bible.'

"And so I got up, and walked out of the room--for you see, Jack,
although he mayn't have been so much to blame, still I didn't like to be
in company with a man who had eaten up _my own mother!_"

Here Ben paused, and sighed deeply. I was so much shocked with the