If all men were as clean livers as he, the world would be spared one half the tears that are shed in it." "Amen, sir.

At least there would have been many a tear spared to us and ours.

For--as all must out--in that bark of Lima he took a young lady, as fair as the sunshine, sir, and seemingly about two or three-and-twenty years of age, having with her a tall young lad of sixteen, and a little girl, a marvellously pretty child, of about a six or seven.

And the lady herself was of an excellent beauty, like a whale's tooth for whiteness, so that all the crew wondered at her, and could not be satisfied with looking upon her.

And, gentlemen, this was strange, that the lady seemed in no wise afraid or mournful, and bid her little girl fear naught, as did also Mr.Oxenham: but the lad kept a very sour countenance, and the more when he saw the lady and Mr.Oxenham speaking together apart.
"Well, sir, after this good luck we were minded to have gone straight back to the river whence we came, and so home to England with all speed.
But Mr.Oxenham persuaded us to return to the island, and get a few more pearls.