Part 9 (1/2)
One day, after I had seen all the sights, and had begun to think seriously of finding a shi+p, I was strolling along the wharves on the latter errand, when I heard a voice I knew cry put, ”There, Captain Williaood a third-mate as can be found in all America” I had a sort of presentih I could not, on the instant, recall the speaker's na to look in the direction of the sounds, I saw the hard countenance of Marble, alongside the weather-beaten face of aarmed merchantman I bowed to Mr Marble, who beckoned ularly introduced to the master
This vessel was called the Crisis, a very capital name for a craft in a country where crisises of one sort or another occur regularly as often as once in six ht little shi+p of about four hundred tons, had hoop-pole bulwarks, as I afterwards learned, with nettings for hammocks and old junk, principally the latter; and showed ten nine-pounders, carriage-guns, in her batteries I saw she was loaded, and was soon given to understand that her shi+pping-articles were then open, and the serious question was of procuring a third- into the navy; and Mr
Marble ventured to recoe of my character I had not anticipated a berth aft quite so soon, and yet I had a hue the duty Captain Williams questioned me for fifteen or twenty minutes, had a short conversation with Mr Marble alone, and then frankly offered e was to be round the world, and it took o of flour to England; there, she was to receive a so for the North-West Coast, and so of her toys and e her furs, wood and other articles for teas, &c, and return hoe, I was offered the berth I have es were of little reat account The shi+p, too, carried out letters-of-marque and reprisal with her, and there were the chances ofsome Frenchman in the European waters, at least
I exareat lances at the captain, to ascertain his character by that profound expedient, analyzing his looks, and finally determined to shi+p, on condition Neb should be taken as an ordinary seaman As soon as Marble heard this last proposal, he explained the relation in which the black stood toreceived as a sealy, and I went at once to the notary and signed the articles Neb was also found, and he was shi+pped too; this ti his sanction to as done The worthy divine was in excellent spirits, for that very day he had ement with a friend at the bar to place Rupert in his office, Mrs Bradfort insisting on keeping her young kinsular ine than to furnish Rupert with clothes, and a few dollars of pocket-money But I knew Rupert too well to suppose he would, or could, be content with the little he e I was not in want of uardian had supplied me so amply, that not only had I paid my debt to the owners of the John, and fully equipped h to supply allthe expected absence Many of the officers and men of the Crisis left behind thees, in part, during their absence, as letters from time to time apprised the owners that these people were on board, and in discharge of their several duties I detere him with twenty dollars fro-house, and succeeded, though not without so forfaithfully to repay any balance that ainst me in consequence of the loss of the shi+p, or of any accident to th of my credit as the owner of Clawbonny; for, as is usual in these cases, I passed for beingpoor
I will acknowledge that, while I felt no reluctance at ement in favour of Rupert, I felt mortified he should accept it
There are certain acts we rets when successfully performed I was sorry that _my_ friend, Lucy's brother, Grace's adan to entertain fancies of that sort--had not pride enough to cause hi money which must be earned by the sweat of my brow, and this, moreover, in a mode of life he had not himself sufficient resolution to encounter a second time But he accepted the offer, and there was an end of it
As everything was alive in 1798, the Crisis was ready to sail in three days after I joined her We hauled into the North river, as becaot our crew on board On the whole, we reen; felloho had never seen the ocean, but ere young, healthy and athletic, and who pro those aft, we counted thirty-eight souls on board The shi+p was got ready in hopes of being able to sail of a Thursday, for Captain Williaet the shi+p fairly at sea, with the first work done, previously to the next Sabbath Soh with in ti of a Friday, that was out of the question No one did that in 1798, who could help it
This gave us a holiday, and I got leave to pass the afternoon and evening ashore
Rupert, Grace, Lucy and I took a long walk into the country that evening; that is, ent into the fields, and along the lanes, for some distance above the present site of Canal street Lucy and I walked together,a separation as was now before us The voyage ally awoes in perspective were these, and which seees as the life of a et back,” I casually remarked, as we talked the irl answered ”Now you _are_ to go, Miles, I alret my brother is not to be in the shi+p; you have known each other so long, love each other so htful trials in coh--there'll be Neb; and as for Rupert, I think he will be better satisfied ashore than at sea Rupert is a sort of a natural lawyer”
By this I e, and could tell his own story
”Yes, but Neb is not Rupert, Miles,” Lucy answered, quick as thought, and, I fancied, a little reproachfully
”Very true--no doubt I shall miss your brother, and that, too, veryof Neb was, as you know, that he and I like each other, too, and have been through just the saether, you understand, and have known each other as long as I can remember”
Lucy was silent, and I felt eirl approaching sixteen, and who is with a youth who possesses her entire confidence, is not apt to be long silent So ith natural feeling, instinct with truth, and touching fro simplicity!
”You will sometimes think of us, Miles?” was Lucy's next remark, and it was said in a tone that induced me to look her full in the face, when I discovered that her eyes were suffused with tears
”Of that you may be _very_ certain, and I hope to be rewarded in kind
But, now I think of it, Lucy, I have a debt to pay you, and, at the same time, a little interest Here are the half-joes you forced me to take last year, e parted at Clawbonny See, they are exactly the saer, as with one of theht have been of use to you, and had quite forgotten thereeable illusion”
”Is it not quite as agreeable to knoe had no occasion for thee's full approbation, you very well know I can be in no want of old; and here, Lucy, is some interest for the use of it”
I irl's hand as I spoke, but all the strength I could properly apply was not equal to the purpose So tightly did she keep her little fingers coht effort at force
”No--no--Miles,” she said hurriedly--almost huskily; ”that will never do! I am not Rupert--you may prevail with him; never with _me_!”
”Rupert! What can Rupert have to do with such a thing as this locket?
Youngsters don't wear lockets”
Lucy's fingers separated as easily as an infant's, and I putinto her hand without any more resistance I was sorry, however, to discover that, by some ement I had made as respected the twenty dollars a month I afterwards ascertained that this secret had leaked out through Neb, who had it fro-house who had visited the shi+p, and repeated it to Mrs Bradfort's black maid, in one of his frequent visits to the house This is a coh it seldom proves as true as it did in this instance
I could see that Lucy was delighted with her locket It was a very pretty ornament, in the first place, and it had her own hair, that of Grace, Rupert, and ether, so as to for a combination of letters that included all our initials In this there was nothing that was particular, while there was much that was affectionate Had I not consulted Grace on the subject, it is possible I should have been less cautious, though I declare I had no thought oflove All this time I fancied I felt for, and trusted Lucy as another sister I was shrewd enough to detect Rupert'stowards my own sister, and I felt afraid it was, or soon would be, fully reciprocated; but as to ie, or any one else, the thought never crossed irl herself so often did!
I saw Lucy's s the manner in which, once or twice, unconsciously to herself, I do believe, this simple-minded, sincere creature, pressed the hand which retained the locket to her heart; and yet it ination at the tian to converse of other things I have since fancied that Grace had left us alone in order that I ht return the half-joes to Lucy, and offer the locket; for, looking round and seeing the latter in its nener's hand, while Lucy was bestowing on it one of the hundred glances of grateful pleasure it received that afternoon, she waited until we ca, as this was to be our last evening together, she must come in for her share of the conversation Now, I sole like a love-scene that had ever passed between Lucy Hardinge and , and shall say but little about it Mr Hardinge called ot back to the house He spoke earnestly and sole to my mind many of his early and , and promised to remember me in his prayers As I left him, and I believe he went on his knees as soon as e She was in tears, and paler than coreat sacrifice like a woly neat copy of the Bible into my hand, and uttered, as well as emotion would permit--”There, Miles; _that_ is _my_ keepsake I do not ask you to think of _me_ when you read; but think of _God_” She then snatched a kiss, and flew into her room and locked the door Grace was below, and she wept oned actually to tear myself away from Grace