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know there are those who take deep interest in the welfare of that youth.
This is foolish bandying of menaces, said the captain, warmly. If you
accept my offers, speak; and if you reject them, abide the consequences.
I abide the consequences. But since we cannot come to terms, as victor and
the submitting party, we may part in amity. Touch my hand, Captain Ludlow, as
one brave man should salute another, though the next minute they are to
grapple at the throat.
Ludlow hesitated. The proposal was made with so frank and manly a mien, and
the air of the free-trader, as he leaned beyond the gunwale of his boat, was
so superior to his pursuit, that, unwilling to seem churlish, or to be outdone
in courtesy, he reluctantly consented, and laid his palm within that the other
offered. The smuggler profited by the junction to draw the boats nearer, and,
to the amazement of all who witnessed the action, he stepped boldly into the
yawl, and was seated, face to face, with its officer, in a moment.
These are matters that are not fit for every ear, said the decided and
confident mariner, in an under tone, when he had made this sudden change in
the position of the parties. Deal with me frankly, Captain Ludlow:--is your
prisoner left to brood on his melancholy, or does he feel the consolation of
knowing that others take an interest in his welfare?
He does not want for sympathy, Master Tiller --since he has the pity of the
finest woman in America.
Ha! la belle Barbérie owns her esteem!--is the conjecture right?
Unhappily, you are too near the truth. The infatuated girl seems but to live
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in his presence. She has so far forgotten the opinions of others, as to follow
him to my ship!
Tiller listened intently, and, from that instant, all concern disappeared
from his countenance.
He who is thus favored may, for a moment, even forget the brigantine! he
exclaimed, with all his natural recklessness of air. And the Alderman--?
Has more discretion than his niece, since he did not permit her to come
alone.
Enough.--Captain Ludlow, let what will follow, we part as friends. Fear not,
Sir, to touch the hand of a proscribed man, again; it is honest after its own
fashion, and many is the peer and prince who keeps not so clean a palm. Deal
tenderly with that gay and rash young sailor; he wants the discretion of an
older head, but the heart is kindness itself--I would hazard life, to shelter
his--but at every hazard the brigantine must be saved.--Adieu!
There was strong emotion in the voice of the mariner of the shawl,
notwithstanding his high bearing. Squeezing the hand of Ludlow, he passed back
into his own barge, with the ease and steadiness of one who made the ocean his
home.
Adieu! he repeated, signing to his men to pull in the direction of the
shoals, where it was certain the ship could not follow. We may meet again;
until then, adieu.
We are sure to meet, with the return of light.
Believe it not, brave gentleman. Our lady will thrust the spars under her
girdle, and pass a fleet unseen.--A sailor s blessing on you--fair winds and a
plenty; a safe landfall, and a cheerful home! Deal kindly by the boy, and, in
all but evil wishes to my vessel, success light on your ensign!
The seamen of both boats dashed their oars into the water at the same
instant, and the two parties were quickly without the hearing of the voice.
CHAPTER IX.
--Did I tell this,
Who would believe me?
Measure for Measure
Thetime of the interview related in the close of the preceding chapter, was in
the early watches of the night. It now becomes our duty to transport the
reader to another, that had place several hours later, and after day had
dawned on the industrious burghers of Manhattan.
There stood, near one of the wooden wharves which lined the arm of the sea on
which the city is so happily placed, a dwelling around which there was every
sign that its owner was engaged in a retail commerce, that was active and
thriving, for that age and country. Notwithstanding the earliness of the hour,
the windows of this house were open; and an individual, of a busy-looking
face, thrust his head so often from one of the casements, as to show that he
already expected the appearance of a second party, in the affair that had
probably called him from his bed, even sooner than common. A tremendous rap at
the door relieved his visible uneasiness; and, hastening to open it, he
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received his visiter, with much parade of ceremony, and many protestations of
respect, in person.
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