Strange to relate, a battered Bible was seldom out of his sight; and whenever he had leisure, and his mistress' back was turned, he was forever poring over it.

This pious propensity used to enrage the old crone past belief; and oftentimes she boxed his ears with the book, and tried to burn it.

Mother Tot and her man Josy were, indeed, a curious pair.
But to my story.
A week or so after our arrival in the harbour, the old lady had once again been hunted down, and forced for the time to abandon her nefarious calling.

This was brought about chiefly by Wilson, who, for some reason unknown, had contracted the most violent hatred for her; which, on her part, was more than reciprocated.
Well: passing, in the evening, where the consul and his party were making merry, she peeped through the bamboos of the house; and straightway resolved to gratify her spite.
The night was very dark; and providing herself with a huge ship's lantern, which usually swung in her hut, she waited till they came forth.

This happened about midnight; Wilson making his appearance, supported by two natives, holding him up by the arms.