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their affection for John Carter and to express it in the pompous phraseology so dear to them. Of course John Carter in reply said the proper things in the proper fashion. He told them he never should forget their kind ness to him and to his wife or the good times they had enjoyed together, and in this he was sincere, for at no time of life is a man more grateful toward his fellows than during his honeymoon. But the remembrance of their first meeting was still present in the minds of some of his guests, and one of them alluded to it. "Don't speak of it," John replied goodnaturedly. " You know Virginia was the only Colony I had seen and they don't keep the Sabbath there as you do." This statement cast a momentary gloom over the company, for the Puritans always felt a vague responsibility for the other colo nies whose prosperity in wickedness was ever a stumbling block to their spirits. So partly to call their minds back again to the present, but more from a love of sport, John con tinued, " Come, Dunton, you know we're all friends here; and speaking of the way you thrashed me, tell us truly now, did you never swear yourself?" Dunton was under the spell of that un questioning confidence in his friends that accompanies a pleasant distension beneath the waistcoat and he also was warmed by the genial smile of encouragement which beamed upon him from all the company. He hesi tated only a minute, toying with his wine glass before he took the plunge. Then he said, " Well, yes, I have sworn." Cries of " Tell me when! " " What did you say, now?" "Let's hear about it!" greeted him frdm every side. But he was not to be lured into giving the particulars of his iniquity. He felt that al ready he had admitted far too much. The Puritan character might open its shell for air now and then, but like the oyster it always closed resolutely when anybody wanted it to open.

John Carter, however, was not to be drawn away from his purpose, and he returned again ton, to the since charge. you can" Iswear have with hopes theofrest youofDunus," he said. " Come now, tell us, did you ever kiss your wife in public?" A hearty laugh greeted this sally, but Elisha Dunton was no child to be led against his will into further confession. " Never, Sir," he answered with some warmth, "Never." An awkward moment might have followed this denial of human fraility, but the company was saved from such embarrassment. Just then a sailor appeared at the hatchway, and touching his cap said to the Captain, " The tide has turned, Sir." The guests knew that this meant it was time for them to leave, and John Carter stood up at the head of his table and said, "A last toast, gentlemen, — may we meet again." All the men rose and silently drank the toast. Then after the usual courtesies they passed up the companionway to the deck. The sails were already bending to the wind, the great anchor was apeak and the little eddies which bubbled up by the side of the frigate showed that she was beginning the long homeward voyage. One by one the guests shook hands with John Carter and climbed down the ladder to their rowboat which was to take them back to town, and last of all came Master Dunton. But just as he was about to say good-bye, he was grabbed by two sailors, quickly di vested of his shirt and doublet, and led to a plank which had been run out over the ves sel's side, and there, while his colleagues looked on helplessly from below, they laid on his bare back thirty-nine stripes of the cat o' nine tails. Dunton stood his flogging bravely, and when it was over he crawled down into the rowboat as fast as he could. John Carter had not spoken, but after Dunton had reached the boat he called down to him, " I swear