"Oh, then, we are to be compelled to leave the vessel in which we have
taken a passage and to be delayed on an errand of importance because
George of Brunswick chooses to try and force unjust laws down the
throats of a free people!"
"The fortune of war, madam," I replied, my choler rising somewhat at her
remarks; still I did not forget she was a lady, and that I was an
officer and a gentleman.
"Such as brigands might be ashamed of," she replied. "Then, sir, we are
to consider ourselves as your prisoners?"
"Not a moment longer than I can help it, I assure you, madam," I
answered, rather inclined to be amused than angry, and hoping to pique
her by my replies. "You are free to go in any direction you please
directly you have an opportunity."
"You speak mockingly, sir," she said, apparently determined not to be on
good terms with me.
I was anxious to bring the conversation to a conclusion without being
rude to her; she was very evidently a lady, and probably accustomed to
be treated with attention. My curiosity also was excited to know who
her companion could be. We had seen two females on board, and she had
used the word "we" several times as if her companion was her equal;
whether older or younger was the question. She herself had the
appearance and air of a matron who, though past the bloom of youth,
still retained much of her beauty. Bowing to her again, I turned to the
melancholy-faced master and inquired the particulars of his cargo, where
he was from, and where bound to. He was from Boston, with a cargo of
notions bound for Philadelphia.
"Well, then, captain, I'll step below, just to have a look at your
papers," said I, trying to appear as unconcerned as possible. "Then
we'll get the wreck of your masts cleared away and take you in tow. You
and your mate with two hands will go on board my vessel, the rest will
remain here to help work this craft."
He saw that my orders were not to be disputed, though he prepared to
obey them with no very good grace. I had no fear of any trick being
played me, for the Lady Parker was fast coming up to the scene of
action, or I should not have trusted either the lank master or the
lovely dame. I hailed Grampus to send another boat aboard, and while
she was coming I dived below, disregarding the black looks both of the
master and the lady. I certainly was not prepared for the vision of
loveliness which broke on my sight when I opened the door of the cabin.
I somehow or other had taken it into my head that the lady on deck was
the youngest of the two persons we had seen, and I expected accordingly
to find a stout, elderly dame acting as her chaperone or attendant.
Instead, however, there, half-reclining on a sofa, and reading, or
pretending to read, was a young and lovely girl. The lady on deck
possessed somewhat of a stern beauty; hers was of the most perfect
feminine softness. She was fair, with light-brown hair, and a rich
colour on her cheeks, and eyes so full and lustrous that they pierced
through and through me at once. I was very glad she did not ask me to
do anything I ought not to have done, for as Adam was easily tempted by
Eve, I fear me much that I should not have had the resolution to refuse
any request she might have made. I stood for a minute at the door,
looking, I daresay, very stupid, and silent as a post. At last I
blundered out--
"I beg pardon, miss; I came to see the ship's papers; I hope that I
don't inconvenience you."
"Oh, no, sir, as the ship is, I conclude, in your power, and the
passengers are your prisoners, we can only be grateful for any courtesy
you show us," she answered; and oh! what a sweet, soft, musical voice
she spoke in!
I was quickly followed below by the master, who proceeded to hand me out
his papers from a well-battered tin case.
"You are, I conclude, Mr Saul Cobb, master of the `Crab' schooner--not
much like a crab though, by the way she went through the water," said I,
running my eyes over the papers. "All well and good, Mr Cobb. We will
take the `Crab' in tow as far as Rhode Island, where Sir Peter Parker,
the English admiral, will decide what is to be done with her. Your
passengers, I have no doubt, will be landed at Newport, and a safe
conduct will be granted them in whatever direction they may wish to
proceed."
I looked up as I spoke, and bowed to the young lady. I found her eyes
fixed on me, though she very quickly withdrew them, and I could not help
fancying, vain puppy that I was! that a slight blush tinged her cheeks.
"I trust, madam," said I, "that we shall be able to make arrangements
satisfactory under the painful circumstances of the case to you and the
lady who is with you."
"She is my aunt," she answered quickly. "But I fear that it will be
difficult to make amends to her for the inconvenience to which she must
be put and the bitter disappointment she feels. She was called to the
bedside of a brother she believes to be dying from his wounds, and there
being no one else whose assistance she could claim, I accompanied her.
We hoped to have landed to-morrow. Could you not still manage to put us
on shore?"
She looked up with such a beautiful, earnest expression that I instantly
began to consider whether I could not by some possibility do as she
requested. As the result of my reflections I replied--
"I am sorry to say I cannot do so. I dare not so far depart from my
very clear line of duty; still, any accommodation I can afford you and
your aunt will, I am sure, be sanctioned by the admiral."
"You are very kind indeed, sir," said the young lady. "I would not ask
any officer to neglect his duty to the king he serves; I should despise
him if he did."
She had risen from her seat, and stood resting her left hand on the
table, while her right was slightly raised to give expression to her
sentiments.
"Ho, ho!" I thought, "your politics do not agree, then, with those of
your aunt."
I looked up into her face. I could not help it. How beautiful and
animated she looked! Her figure was not tall, though exquisitely
proportioned and rounded as if she enjoyed excellent health, and had
been subject to very few of the cares and disappointments of life. In a
word, I thought her a perfect heroine, and so she was. I could not help
congratulating myself at the idea of having her society on board the
tender for at least the next two days, and perhaps longer, and I must
own that I was in no hurry to finish looking over the papers of the
Crab, though for the life of me I could not have told a word of their
contents.
"Well, mister, are you satisfied now?"
The harsh, grating sounds of Captain Cobb's voice, for he it was who
spoke, recalled me to myself.
"Yes, yes," I answered. "Turn your hands up and get a hawser secured on
board with plenty of scope."