Afloat and Ashore: A Sea Tale

by James Fenimore Cooper

  CHAPTER XVIII

  _1st Witch_. "Hail!" _2d Witch_. "Hail!" _3d Witch_. "Hail!" _1st Witch_. "Lesser than Macbeth, and greater." _2d Witch_. "Not so happy, yet much happier." MACBETH.

  I hope I shall be believed in saying, if Marble had been with us whenwe retook the ship, I should have been perfectly happy. He was not,however, and regret was left to mingle in our triumph. I had a hastyinterview with Major Merton that night, and communicated all that wasnecessary to quiet the apprehensions of his daughter. Emily was in herstate-room, and had been alarmed, as a matter of course; but when shelearned that all was over, and had terminated successfully, her fearsyielded to reason. Of course, both she and her father felt it to be agreat relief that they were no longer prisoners.

  We were no sooner fairly in command of our old ship, again, than I hadall hands called to get the anchor. We hove up, and passed out to seawithout delay, it being necessary to cover our movements with as muchmystery as possible, in order to prevent certain awkward demands fromthe Spanish government, on the subject of the violation of neutralterritory. A hint from Major Merton put me on my guard as respected thispoint, and I determined to disappear as suddenly as we had arrived,in order to throw obstacles in the way of being traced. By day-light,therefore, both the ship and schooner were four leagues from theland, and on the "great highway of nations;" a road, it may be said inpassing, that was then greatly infested by foot-pads and other robbers.

  Just as the sun rose, we buried the dead. This was done decently, andwith the usual ceremony, the triumph of victory giving place to the sadreflections that are so apt to succeed to the excited feelings of mostof our struggles. I saw poor Le Compte disappear from sight with regret,and remembered his recent hopes, his generous treatment, his admirationof Emily, and all that he had so lately thought and felt, as a warningof the fragile nature of life, and that which life can bestow. Thusterminated an acquaintance of a month; but a month that had beenpregnant with incidents of great importance to myself.

  It now became necessary to decide on our future course. I had the ship,just as the French got her from us, with the addition of those portionsof their own cargo with which they had intended to trade on the coast ofSouth America. These consisted of silks and various fancy articles, witha little wine, and would be nearly as valuable at home as they were inSpanish America. I was strongly averse to smuggling, and the ship havingalready followed out her original instructions on this point, I saw nonecessity for pursuing the ungrateful trade any further. Could I returnto the island, and get the articles of value left on it by the French,such as the copper they had not used, and divers pales received fromthe Bombay ship, which had been abandoned by us all under a tent, moreprofit would accrue to my owners than by any illicit commerce we couldnow possibly carry into effect on the coast.

  While Talcott, and the new chief-mate, and myself were discussing thesepoints, the cry of "sail ho!" was heard. A large ship had suddenly hoveup out of the morning's mist, within a mile of us, and I thought, atfirst, we had got under the guns of a Spanish man-of-war. A second lookat her, however, satisfied us all, that, though heavy and armed, she wasmerely one of those clumsy traders that sailed, periodically, from thecolonies to Spain. We went to quarters, and cleared ship, but made noeffort to avoid the stranger. The Spaniards, of the two, were the mostuneasy, I believe, their country being then at war with England; but wespoke each other without coming to blows. As soon as the strangers sawthe American ensign, they expressed a wish to communicate with us; and,unwilling to let them come on board us, I volunteered a visit to theSpanish captain. He received me with formal politeness, and, after somepreliminary discourse, he put into my hands some American newspapers,which contained a copy of the treaty of peace between the United Statesand France. On looking over the articles of this new compact, I foundthat, had our recapture of the Crisis been delayed to that very day,at noon, it would have been illegal. The two nations, in fact, were atpeace, when the French seized the ship, but the customary provisions asto captures in distant seas, just brought us within the saving clauses.Such is war, and its concomitants!

  In the course of half an hour's conversation, I discovered that theSpaniard intended to touch at Valparaiso, and called, in order to getmen, his own having suffered, up the coast, with the small-pox. His shipwas large, carried a considerable armament, and he should not deem hersafe from the smaller English cruisers, unless he doubled the Cape muchstronger handed than he then was. I caught at the idea, and inquiredwhat he thought of Frenchmen? They would answer his purpose, for Franceand Spain had a common enemy, and nothing would be easier than to sendthe French from Cadiz to Marseilles. A bargain was consequently struckon the spot.

  When I got back on board the Crisis, I had all the prisoners mustered ondeck. They were made acquainted with the offers of the Spanish captain,with the fact that peace now existed between our respective countries,and with the chance that presented itself, so opportunely, for them toreturn home. The proposition was cheerfully accepted, anything beingbetter than captivity. Before parting, I endeavoured to impress on theFrench the necessity of prudence on the subject of our recapturing theCrisis in Spanish waters, inasmuch as the circumstance might induce aninquiry as to what took the ship there; it being well understood thatthe mines were the punishment of those who were taken in the contrabandtrade in that quarter of the world. The French promised fairly.Whether they kept their words I never knew, but, if they did not, noconsequences ever followed from their revelations. In such a case,indeed, the Spanish government would be very apt to consider thequestion one that touched the interests of smugglers alike, and to feelgreat indifference between the parties. At all events, no complaintswere ever made to the American government; or, if made, they neverreached my ears, or those of my owners. It is most probable nothing wasever said on the subject.

  About noon we had got rid of our prisoners. They were allowed to takeaway with them all their own effects, and, as usually happens in suchcases, I make little doubt some that belonged to other persons. Theships then made sail, each on her own course; the Spaniard running downthe coast, while we spread our studding-sails for the island. As soon asthis was done, I felt relieved from a great burthen, and had leisureto think of other matters. I ought to mention, however, that I put thesecond-mate, or him who had become chief-mate by my own advancement, incommand of the "Pretty Poll," giving him two experienced seamen as hisown mates, and six men, to sail her. This made Talcott the Crisis' firstofficer, and glad was I to see him in a station a little suited to hisattainments.

  That evening, just as the sun was setting, I saw Emily again, for thefirst time since she had stood leaning over the rail as the Crisis shotthrough the inlet of the lagoon. The poor girl was pale, and it wasevident, while she could not but rejoice at her liberation, and herrelease from the solicitations of the unfortunate Le Compte, that hisdeath had cast a shade of sadness over her pretty features. It could notwell be otherwise, the female breast ever entertaining its sympathiesfor those who submit to the influence of its owner's charms. Then, poorLe Compte had some excellent qualities, and he treated Emily, as sheadmitted to me herself, with the profoundest respect, and delicacy.His admiration could scarce be an offence in _her_ eyes, howeverdisagreeable it proved, in certain points of view.

  Our meeting partook of the character of our situation, being a mixtureof melancholy and happiness. I rejoiced in our success, while Iregretted Marble, and even our late enemies, while the Major and hisdaughter could not but remember all the gloomy particulars of theirlate, and, indeed, of their present position.

  "We seem to be kept, like Mahomet's coffin, sir," Emily observed, asshe looked affectionately at her father, "suspended between heaven andearth--the Indies and America--not knowing on which we are to alight.The Pacific is our air, and we are likely to breathe it, to our heart'scontent."

  "True, love--your comparison is not an unhappy one. But, Wallingford,what has become of Captain Marble in these stirring times? You have notleft him, Sancho
Panza like, to govern Barritaria, while you have cometo recover his ship?"

  I told my passengers of the manner in which our old friend haddisappeared, and inquired if anything had been seen of the whale-boat,or the schooner, on the night of the tropical tempest.

  "Nothing"--answered the Major. "So far from expecting to lay eyes on the'Beautiful Emily,' again, we supposed you would be off for Canton by theend of the fortnight that succeeded our own departure. At least, thatwas poor Le Compte's version of the matter. I am certain however, thatno sail was seen from this ship, during the whole passage; nor, had weany storm like that you have described. More beautiful weather, I nevermet at sea."

  Upon this, I sent for the log-book, and ascertained, by day and date,that the Crisis was not within fifty leagues of the spot, wherewe encountered the thunder-squall. Of course the ship we saw was astranger; most probably a whaler. This destroyed any little hope thatwas left concerning Marble's fate.

  But it is time I should mention a _galanterie_ of poor Le Compte's. Hewas well provided with shipwrights--better, indeed, than with seamen--aswas apparent by the readiness with which he had constructed theschooner. During the passage from Marble Land, he had set these workmenabout building a poop on the Crisis' quarter-deck, and I found the workcompleted. There was a very pretty, airy cabin, with two state-roomscommunicating with light quarter-galleries, and everything that iscustomary with such accommodations. Furniture had been made, with Frenchdexterity and taste, and the paint was just dry to receive it. Emily andher father were to take possession of these new accommodations the veryday succeeding that in which the ship fell again into our hands. Thisalteration was not such as I would have made, as a seaman; and I wonderMons. Le Compte, who had the gauntlet to run through the most formidablenavy in the world, should have ventured on it, since it sensiblyaffected the ship's sailing on a wind. But, now it was peace, I caredlittle about it, and determined to let it remain, so long, at least, asMiss Merton continued on board.

  That very night, therefore, the Major occupied one of the state-rooms,and his daughter the other. Imitating poor Le Compte's gallantry, I gavethem a separate table, though I took quite half my meals with them, byinvitation. Emily did not absolutely dress my wound, a flesh injury inthe shoulder, that office falling to her father's share, who had seena good deal of service, and was familiar with the general treatment ofhurts of this nature; but she could, and did, show many of those gentleand seductive attentions, that the tenderness of her sex can alonebestow, with full effect, on man. In a fortnight my hurt was cured,though Emily had specifics to recommend, and advice to bestow, until wewere both ashamed to allude to the subject any longer.

  As for the passage, it was just such a one as might be expected tooccur, in the trades of the Pacific. The ship was under studding-sailsnearly the whole time, making, day in and day out, from a hundred andtwenty to two hundred miles in the twenty-four hours. The mates kept thewatches, and I had little to do, but to sit and chat with the Major andhis daughter, in the cool, airy cabin, that Le Compte had provided forus; listen to Emily's piano, which had been transferred from the prize,and subsequently saved from the wreck; or read aloud out of some of thetwo or three hundred beautifully bound, and sweetly-scented volumesthat composed her library. In that day, people read Pope, and Young, andMilton, and Shakspeare, and that sort of writers; a little relievedby Mrs. Radcliffe, and Miss Burney, and Monk Lewis, perhaps. As forFielding and Smollet, they were well enough in their place, which wasnot a young lady's library, however. There were still more useful books,and I believe I read everything in the ship, before the voyage ended.The leisure of a sea-life, in a tranquil, well-ordered vessel, admitsof much study; and books ought to be a leading object in the fittingout that portion of a vessel's equipment which relates chiefly to thewelfare of her officers and crew.

  Time passed pleasantly enough, with a young fellow who had certainlysome reason to be satisfied with his own success thus far in life, andwho could relieve the tedium of ship's duty in such society. I cannotsay I was in love, though I often thought of Emily when she was notbefore my eyes, and actually dreamt of her three times, in thefirst fortnight after the re-capture of the ship. What was a littleremarkable, as I conceive, I often found myself drawing comparisonsbetween her and Lucy, though I hardly knew why, myself. The result wasvery much after this sort;--Emily had vastly the advantage in all thatrelated to art, instruction, training--I am wrong, Mr. Harding had givenhis daughter a store of precise, useful knowledge, that Emily did notpossess; and then I could not but see that Lucy's tact in moral feeling,was much of the highest order of the two. But, in purely conventionalattainments, in most that relates to the world, its usages, its finesseof feeling and manner, I could see that Emily was the superior. HadI known more myself, I could have seen that both were provincial--forEngland, in 1801, was but a province, as to mere manners, though on alarger scale than America is even now--and that either would have beenremarked for peculiarities, in the more sophisticated circles of thecontinent of Europe. I dare say, half my own countrymen would havepreferred Lucy's nature to the more artificial manner of Emily; but,it will not do to say that even female deportment, however delicate andfeminine nature may have made it, cannot be improved by certain generalrules for the government of that which is even purely conventional. Onthe whole, I wished that Lucy had a little of Emily's art, and Emily agood deal more of Lucy's nature. I suppose the perfection in this sortof thing is to possess an art so admirable that it shall appear to benature, in all things immaterial, while it leaves the latter strictly inthe ascendant, in all that is material.

  In person, I sometimes fancied Emily was the superior, and, sometimes,when memory carried me back to certain scenes that had occurred duringmy last visit to Clawbonny, that it was Lucy. In complexion, and perhapsin eyes, the English girl beat her rival; possibly, also, in the teeth;though Lucy's were very even and white; but, in the smile, in theoutline of the face, most especially in the mouth, and in the hands,feet, and person generally, I think nine judges in ten would havepreferred the American. One peculiar charm was common to both; and it isa charm, though the strongest instance I ever saw of it in my life,was in Italy, that may be said to belong, almost exclusively, to theAnglo-Saxon race: I mean that expression of the countenance which soeminently betokens feminine purity and feminine tenderness united; thelook which artists love to impart to the faces of angels. Each of thegirls had much of this; and I suppose it was principally owing to theirheavenly blue eyes. I doubt if any woman with black, or hazel eyesnotwithstanding all the brilliancy of their beauty, ever possessed thischarm in the higher degree. It belonged to Grace even more than to Lucyor Emily; though, of the two last, I think the English girl possessedit, in a slight degree, the most, so far as it was connected with mereshading and colour; while the American exhibited the most of it, inmoments of feeling and emotion. Perhaps, this last advantage was owingto Lucy's submitting most to nature, and to her impulses. It must beremembered, however, that I had not seen Lucy, now, for near twoyears; and two of the most important years of a young female's life, asrespected her personal appearance.

  As relates to character, I will not now speak as plainly as I shall becalled on to do, hereafter. A youth of twenty is not the best judge ofsuch things, and I shall leave events to tell their own story, in thisparticular.

  We had been at sea a fortnight, when happening to allude to the pearlfishery, I bethought me of my own prizes. A ship that carries anumerous crew, is a sort of _omnium gatherum_, of human employments.For ordinarily manned craft, seamen are necessary; but ships of war,privateers and letters-of-marque, can afford, as poor Marblewould express it, to generalize. We had several tradesmen in theCrisis--mechanics, who found the restraints of a ship necessary fortheir own good--and, among others, we happened to have a goldsmith. Thisman had offered to perforate my pearls, and to string them; an operationto which I consented. The fellow had performed his task as well as couldbe desired, and supplying from his own stores a pair of suitable clasps,
had formed the whole into a simple, but as beautiful a necklace, as Iever laid eyes on. He had put the largest pearl of all directly inthe centre, and then arranged the remainder, by placing several of thesmaller together separated by one of the second size, until the wholeformed a row that would much more than encircle my own neck, and which,of course, would drop gracefully round that of a female.

  When I produced this beautiful ornament, one that a woman of rankmight have coveted, Emily did not endeavour to conceal her admiration.Unaccustomed, herself, to the higher associations of her own country,she had never seen a necklace of the same value, and she even fanciedit fit for a queen. Doubtless, queens usually possess much more preciouspearls than those of mine, and yet it was to be supposed they would notdisdain to wear even such as they. Major Merton examined the necklacecarefully, and I could see by his countenance, he was surprised andpleased.

  On the whole, I think it may be questioned, if any other man enjoysas many _physical_ advantages with the same means, as the Americans.I speak more of his habits, than of his opportunities; but I am ofopinion, after seeing a good deal of various parts of the world, thatthe American of moderate fortune has more physical indulgences than anyother man. While this is true, however, as a whole, there are certainpoints on which he signally fails. He fails _often_, when it comes tothe mere outward exhibition; and it is probable there is not a singlewell-ordered household--meaning for the purposes of comfort andrepresentation united--in the whole country. The particular deficiency,if deficiency it be, applies in an almost exclusive degree to the useof precious stones, jewelry, and those of the more valuable metals ingeneral. The ignorance of the value of precious stones is so great, thathalf the men, meaning those who possess more or less of fortune, donot even know the names of those of the commoner sorts. I doubt, if oneeducated American in twenty could, even at this moment, tell a sapphirefrom an amethyst, or a turquoise from a garnet; though the women arerather more expert as lapidaries. Now, I was a true American in thisrespect; and, while I knew I possessed a very beautiful ornament, I hadnot the smallest idea of its value, as an article of commerce. With theMajor it was different. He had studied such things, and he had a tastefor them. The reader will judge of my surprise, therefore, when I heardhim say:--

  "That necklace, in the hands of Rundle and Bridges, would bring athousand pounds, in London!"

  "Father!" exclaimed Emily.

  "I do think it. It is not so much the size of the pearls, though theselargest are not common even in that particular, but it is their extremebeauty; their colour and transparency--their _water_, as it is called."

  "I thought that a term applied only to diamonds"--observed Emily, withan interest I wished she had not manifested.

  "It is also applied to pearls--there are pearls of what is called the'white water,' and they are of the sort most prized in Europe. The'yellow water' are more esteemed among nations of darker skins; Isuppose that is the secret. Yes, I think if you send this necklace toLondon, Wallingford, you will get six or eight hundred pounds for it."

  "I shall never sell it, sir--at least, not as long as I can avoid it."

  I saw that Emily looked at me, with an earnestness for which I could notaccount.

  "Not sell it!--" repealed her father--"Why, what in the name of Neptunecan _you_ do with such an ornament?"

  "Keep it. It is strictly my own. I brought it up, from the bottom of thesea, with my own hands; removed the pearls from what the editors wouldcall their 'native homes' myself, and I feel an interest in them, that Inever could feel in any ornament that was purchased."

  "Still, this will prove rather an expensive taste. Pray, What interestdo you obtain for money, in your part of the world, Wallingford?"

  "Six per cent., in New York, sir, perhaps, on the better sort ofpermanent securities."

  "And how much is sixty pounds sterling, when turned into dollars?"

  "We usually say five for one, though it is not quite that; fromtwo hundred and eighty to two hundred and ninety, all thingsconsidered--though two hundred and sixty-six, nominally, orthereabouts."

  "Well, even two hundred and sixty-six dollars a year, is a good deal fora young man like you to pay, for the pleasure of saying he owns a pearlnecklace that he cannot use."

  "But it cost me nothing, sir, and of course I can lose nothing by it."

  "I rather think you will lose what I tell you, if the ornament can besold for that sum. When a man has property from which he might derive anincome, and does not, he is, in one sense, and that the most important,a loser."

  "I have a sister, Major Merton; I may possibly give it to her--or,should I marry, I would certainly give it to my wife."

  I could see a smile struggling about the mouth of the major, which Iwas then too young, and I may add, too American, to understand. Theincongruity of the wife of a man of two thousand, or five and twentyhundred dollars a-year, wearing two years' income round her neck, or ofbeing magnificent in only one item of her dress, household, or mannerof living, never occurred to my mind. We can all laugh when we read ofIndian chiefs wearing uniform-coats, and cocked-hats, without any otherarticles of attire; but we cannot imagine inconsistencies in our owncases, that are almost as absurd in the eyes of highly sophisticated andconventional usages. To me, at that age, there was nothing in the leastout of the way, in Mrs. Miles Wallingford's wearing the necklace, herhusband being unequivocally its owner. As for Emily, she did not smile,but continued to hold the necklace in her own very white, plump hand,the pearls making the hand look all the prettier, while the handassisted to increase the lustre of the pearls. I ventured to ask her toput the necklace on her neck. She blushed slightly, but she complied.

  "Upon my word, Emily," exclaimed the gratified father, "you become eachother so well, that I am losing a prejudice, and begin to believe even apoor man's daughter may be justified in using such an ornament."

  The sight was certainly sufficient to justify anything of the sort. Thedazzling whiteness of Miss Merlon's skin, the admirable outlines ofher throat and bust, and the flush which pleasure gave her cheeks,contributed largely to the beauty of the picture. It would have beendifficult to say, whether the charms of the woman ornamented the pearls,or those of the pearls ornamented the woman! I remember I thought, atthe time, my eyes had never dwelt on any object more pleasing, than wasMiss Merton during the novelty of that spectacle. Nor did the pleasurecease, on the instant; for I begged her to continue to wear the necklaceduring the remainder of the day; a request with which she had the goodnature to comply. Which was most gratified by this exhibition, the younglady or myself, it might be difficult to say; for there is a mutualsatisfaction in admiring, and in being admired.

  When I went into the cabin to say good-night, I found Emily Merton, withthe necklace in her hand, gazing at it, by the light of a powerful lamp,with eyes as liquid and soft as the pearls themselves. I stood still toadmire her; for never before had I seen her so bewitchingly beautiful.Her countenance was usually a little wanting in intellectual expression,though it possessed so much of that which I have described as _angelic_;but, on this occasion, _it seemed to me_, to be full of ideas. Can itbe possible, whispered conceit--and what very young man is entirely freefrom it--can it be possible, she is now thinking how happy a woman Mrs.Miles Wallingford will one day be?--Am I in any manner connected withthat meditating brow, that reflecting air, that fixed look, that pleasedand yet doubting expression?

  "I was about to send for you, Captain Wallingford," said Emily, theinstant she saw me, and confirming my conceited conjectures, by blushingdeeper than I had seen her before, in the whole of that blushing,sensitive, and enjoyable day; "about to send for you, to take charge ofyour treasure."

  "And could you not assume that much responsibility, for a single night?"

  "'T would be too great--it is an honour reserved for Mrs. Wallingford,you know."

  This was smilingly said, I fancied sweetly and kindly, and yet it wassaid not altogether without something that approached to an _equivoque_;a sort
of manner that the deep, natural feeling of Grace, andneedle-like truth of Lucy had rendered unpleasant to me. I took thenecklace, shook the young lady's hand for good-night--we always didthat, on meeting and parting for the day--paid my compliments to thefather, and withdrew.

  I was dressing next morning, when Neb came bolting into my state-room,with his Clawbonny freedom of manner, his eyes looking lobsters, and_his_ necklace of pearl, glittering between a pair of lips thatmight have furnished a cannibal two famous steaks. As soon as fairlyestablished in command, I had brought the fellow aft, berthing himin the steerage, in order to have the benefit of more of his personalservice than I could obtain while he was exclusively a foremast Jack.Still, he kept his watch; for it would have been cruel to deprive, himof that pleasure.

  "Oh! Masser Mile!" exclaimed the black, as soon as he could speak; "'eboat!--'e boat!"

  "What of the boat?--Is any one overboard?"

  "'E whale-boat, sir!--Poor Captain Marble--'e whale-boat, sir!"

  "I understand you, Neb--go on deck, and desire the officer of the watchto heave-to the ship, as soon as it is proper; I will come up, theinstant I can."

  Here, then, I thought, Providence has brought us on the track of theunfortunate whale-boat; and we shall doubtless see the mutilated remainsof some of our old companions--poor Marble, doubtless, from what Nebsaid--well, the will of God be done. I was soon dressed; and, as I wentup the cabin-ladder, the movement on deck denoted the nature of theexcitement that now prevailed generally, in the ship. Just as I reachedthe quarter-deck, the main-yard swung round, and the sails were broughtaback. The whole crew was in commotion, and it was some little timebefore I could learn the cause.

  The morning was misty, and the view round the ship, until within a fewminutes, had been confined to a circle of less than a mile in diameter.As the sun rose, however, the mist broke away gradually, and then thewatch caught a view of the whale-boat mentioned by Neb. Instead of beingfloating about on the ocean, with the remains of its unfortunate crewlying in its bottom, as I had expected to see it, when I caught thefirst glimpse of the unlooked-for object, it was not a mile distant,pulling briskly for us, and containing not only a full, but a strong andan animated crew.

  Just at that instant, some one cried out "Sail-ho!" and sure enough, aship was seen some four or five miles to leeward, a whaler evidently,turning to windward, under easy canvass, in order to rejoin her boat,from which she had lately been separated by the night and the fog.This, then, was no more than a whaler and her boat; and, on sweeping thehorizon with a glass, Talcott soon discovered, a mile to windward of theboat, a dead whale, with another boat lying by it, in waiting for theapproach of the ship, which promised to fetch as far to windward, on itsnext tack.

  "They desire to speak us, I suppose, Mr. Talcott," I remarked. "The shipis probably an American; it is likely the captain is in the boat, and hewishes to send letters or messages home."

  A shout came from Talcott, at the next instant--then he cried out--

  "Three cheers, my lads; I see Captain Marble in that boat, as plainly asI see the boat itself!"

  The cheers that followed, were a spontaneous burst of joy. They reachedthe approaching boat, and gave its inmate an earnest of his reception.In three more minutes. Marble was on the deck of his old ship. Formyself, I was unable to speak; nor was poor Marble much better offthough more prepared for the interview.

  "I knew you, Miles; I knew you, and the bloody 'Pretty Poll,'" he atlast got out, the tears running down his cheeks like water, "the momentthe fog lifted, and gave me a fair glimpse. They've got her--yes--d----nher--God bless her, I mean--they've got her, and the bloody Frenchmenwill not go home with _that_ feather in their caps. Well, it couldn'thave happened to a cleverer fellow; and I'm just as happy as if I haddone it myself!"

  There he stood, sound, safe, and sturdy as ever; and the four SandwichIslanders were all in the boat, just as well as if they had neverquitted the ship. Every man of the crew had to shake hands with Marble,congratulations were to be exchanged, and a turbulent quarter of an hourpassed, before it was possible to get a coherent account from the man ofwhat had befallen him. As soon as practicable, however, he motioned forsilence, and told his own story aloud, for the benefit of all hands.

  "You know how I left you, men," Marble commenced, swabbing his eyes andcheeks, and struggling to speak with something like an appearance ofcomposure, "and the errand on which I went. The last I saw of you wasabout half an hour before the gust broke. At that time I was so near theship, as to make out she was a whaler; and, nothing doubting of beingin sight of you in the morning, I thought it safer to pull alongside of_her_, than to try to hunt for the schooner in the dark. I found an oldshipmate in the whaler's captain, who was looking for a boat that hadstruck adrift the night before; and both parties were pleased. There wasnot much time for compliments, however, as you all know. The ship boreup to speak you, and then she bore up, again and again, on account ofthe squalls. While Mr. Wallingford was probably hugging the wind inorder to find _me_, we were running off to save our spars; and nextmorning we could see nothing of you. How else we missed each other, ismore than I can say; for I've no idee you went off and left me out here,in the middle of the ocean--"

  "We cruised for you, within five miles of the spot, for a whole day!" Iexclaimed, eagerly.

  "No, no--Captain Marble," the men put in, in a body, "we did all thatmen could do, to find you."

  "I know it! I could swear to it, without a word from one of you. Well,that's the whole story. We could not find you, and I stuck by the shipas a matter of course, as there was no choice between that and jumpingoverboard; and here has the Lord brought us together again, though weare every inch of five hundred miles from the place where we parted."

  I then took Marble below, and related to him all that had occurred sincethe separation. He listened with the deepest interest, manifestingthe strongest sympathy in our success. Nothing but expressions ofgratification escaped him, until I remarked, as I concluded my account--

  "And here is the old ship for you, sir, just as we lost her; and glad amI to see her once more in so good hands."

  "Who put that bloody poop on her, you or the Frenchman, Miles?"

  "The Frenchman. Now it is peace, however, it is no great matter; and thecabin is very convenient for the Major and his daughter."

  "It's just like 'em! Spoiling the neatest quarter-deck on the ocean,with a bloody supernumerary cabin!"

  "Well, sir, as you are master now, you can have it all cut away again,if you think proper."

  "I! I cut away anything! I take the command of this ship from the manwho has so fairly won it! If I do, may I be d----d!"

  "Captain Marble! You astonish me by this language, sir; but itis nothing more than a momentary feeling, of which your own goodsense--nay, even your duty to the owners--will cause you to get rid."

  "You never were more mistaken in your life, Master Miles Wallingford,"answered Marble, solemnly. "I thought of all this the moment Irecognised the ship, and that was as soon as I saw her; and my mindwas made up from that instant. I cannot be so mean as to come in at theseventh hour, and profit by your courage and skill. Besides, I have nolegal right to command here. The ship was more than twenty-four hours inthe enemy's hands, and she comes under the usual laws of recapture andsalvage."

  "But the owners, Captain Marble--remember there is a cargo to be takenin at Canton, and there are heavy interests at stake."

  "By George, that would make me so much the more firm. From the first, Ihave thought matters would be better in your hands than mine; you havean education, and that's a wonderful thing, Miles. As to sailing a ship,or stowing her, or taking care of her in heavy weather, or finding myway across an ocean, I'll turn my back on no man; but it's a differentthing when it comes to figures and calculations."

  "You disappoint me greatly in all this, sir; we have gone through somuch together--"

  "We did not go through _the recapture of this vessel_ together, boy."

 
; "But it was _your_ thought, and, but for an accident, would have beenyour _deed_."

  "I don't know that; I have reflected coolly in the matter, after I gotover my mortification; and I think we should have been flogged, hadwe attacked the French at sea. Your own plan was better, and capitallycarried out. Harkee, Miles, this much will I do, and not a jot more.You are bound to the island, I take it for granted, to pick up odds andends; and then you sail for Canton?"

  "Precisely--I am glad you approve of it, as you must by seeing into itso readily."

  "Well, at the island, fill up the schooner with such articles as will beof no use at Canton. Let her take in the copper, the English goods, andthe like of that; and I will carry her home, while you can pursue thev'y'ge in the ship, as you alone have a right to do."

  No arguments of mine could turn Marble from his resolution. I foughthim all day on the subject, and at night he was put in command of the"Pretty Poll," with our old second-mate for his first officer.