'One
must die some day. It's not that. And you are a single man, Barker,
without ties.'
"The man stooped down, and taking one of Carlo's long ears in his
hand, played absently with it, as he said--
"'No, sir. I am not married, it's true, and have no children. I feel
for you, sir, from my heart. But in a little house just out of
Plymouth, that, God above knows, I can see this moment as clearly as I
see you, there's a girl that has either forgotten me, or is breaking
as good a heart as ever beat in woman's breast for the man that should
have been her husband, and that's fast bound here upon a rock with
sea-birds. The Lord knows best, captain, but it comes hard. We all
have our troubles, sir.'
"The captain laid his hand upon his shoulder.
"'Forgive me,' he said. 'God comfort you! God bless you!' And, rising
hurriedly, he went forward, the big tears breaking over his cheeks,
and sea and sky dancing together before his eyes.
"'What do you dream of at night, Barker?' said the captain, on
another day.
"'Home, sir,' said Barker.
"'Strange!' said the captain. 'So do I. In all the time we have been
here, I have never once dreamed of this island, or of our day's work,
nor even of seeing a sail.
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