Part 21 (1/2)

”Not to p.r.o.nounce too harshly on the conduct of others, seeing that we ourselves may stand in much need of lenity of judgment. There might have existed motives for the action of him whom you designate as an a.s.sa.s.sin, quite as powerful as those which led to YOUR interference, and quite as easily justified to himself.”

”But, dearest Matilda--”

”Nay, I have done--I close at once my argument and my philosophy. The humour is past, and I shall no longer attempt to make the worse appear the better cause. I dare say you thought me in earnest,” she added, with slight sarcasm, ”but a philosophical disquisition between two lovers on the eve of parting for ever, was too novel and piquant a seduction to be resisted.”

That ”parting for ever” was sufficient to drive all philosophy utterly away from our hero.

”For ever, did you say, Matilda?--no, not for ever; yet, how coldly do you allude to a separation, which, although I trust it will be only temporary, is to me a source of the deepest vexation. You did not manifest this indifference in the early part of our conversation this evening.”

”And if there be a change,” emphatically yet tenderly returned the beautiful American; ”am _I_ the only one changed. Is your manner NOW what it was THEN. Do you already forget at WHAT a moment that conversation was interrupted?”

Gerald did not forget; and again, as they leaned over the vessel's side, his arm was pa.s.sed around the waist of his companion.

The hour, the scene, the very rippling of the water-- all contributed to lend a character of excitement to the feelings of the youth. Filled with tenderness and admiration for the fascinating being who reposed thus confidingly on his shoulder, he scarcely dared to move, lest in so doing he should destroy the fabric of his happiness.

”First watch there, hilloa! rouse up, and be d--d to you, it's two o'clock.”

Both Gerald and Matilda, although long and silently watching the progress of the vessel, had forgotten there was any such being as a steersman to direct her.

”Good Heaven, can it be so late?” whispered the American, gliding from her lover; ”if my uncle be awake, he will certainly chide me for my imprudence. Good night, dear Gerald,” and drawing her cloak more closely around her shoulders, she quickly crossed the deck, and descended to the cabin.

”What the devil's this?” said the relieving steersman, as, rubbing his heavy eyes with one hand, he stooped and raised with the other something from the deck against which he had kicked, in his advance to take the helm; ”why, I'm blest if it arn't the ap.r.o.n off old Sally here.

Have you been fingering Sall's ap.r.o.n, Bill?”

”Not I, faith,” growled the party addressed, I've enough to do to steer the craft without thinking o' meddling with Sall's ap.r.o.n at this time o' night.”

”I should like to know who it is that has hexposed the old gal to the night hair in this here manner,” still muttered the other, holding up the object in question to his closer scrutiny; ”it was only this morning I gave her a pair of bran new ap.r.o.n strings, and helped to dress her myself. If she doesn't hang fire after this, I'm a Dutchman that's all.”

”What signifies jawing, Tom Fluke. I suppose she got unkivered in the scurry after the Yankee; but bear a hand, and kiver her, unless you wish a fellow to stay here all night.”

Old Sal, our readers must know, was no other than the long twenty-four pounder, formerly belonging to Gerald's gun-boat, which, now removed to his new command, lay a mid s.h.i.+ps, and mounted on a pivot, const.i.tuted the whole battery of the schooner. The ap.r.o.n was the leaden covering protecting the touch-hole, which, having unaccountably fallen off, had encountered the heavy foot of Tom Fluke, in his advance along the deck.

The ap.r.o.n was at length replaced. Tom Fluke took the helm, and his companion departed, as he said, to have a comfortable snooze.

Gerald, who had been an amused listener of the preceding dialogue, soon followed, first inquiring into the condition of his faithful Sambo, who, on examination, was found to have been stunned by the violence of the blow he had received. This, Gerald doubted not, had been given with the view of better facilitating Desborough's escape, by throwing the schooner out of her course, and occasioning a consequent confusion among the crew, which might have the effect of distracting their attention, for a time, from himself.

CHAPTER II.

The following evening, an armed schooner was lying at anchor in the roadstead of Buffalo, at the southern extremity of Lake Erie, and within a mile of the American sh.o.r.e. It was past midnight--and although the lake was calm and unbroken as the face of a mirror, a dense fog had arisen which prevented objects at the head of the vessel from being seen from the stern. Two men only were visible upon the after deck; the one lay reclining upon an arm chest, m.u.f.fled up in a dread-nought pea jacket, the other paced up and down hurriedly, and with an air of deep pre-occupation. At intervals he would stop and lean over the gang-way, apparently endeavouring to pierce through the fog and catch a glimpse of the adjacent sh.o.r.e, and, on these occasions, a profound sigh would burst from his chest. Then again he would resume his rapid walk, with the air of one who has resolved to conquer a weakness, and subst.i.tute determination in its stead. Altogether his manner was that of a man ill at ease from his own thoughts.

”Sambo,” he at length exclaimed, addressing the man in the pea jacket for the first time, ”I shall retire to my cabin, but fail not to call me an hour before day-break.

Our friends being all landed, there can be nothing further to detain us here, we will therefore make the best of our way back to Amherstburg in the morning,”

”Yes, Ma.s.sa Geral,” returned the negro, yawning and half raising his brawny form from his rude couch with one hand, while he rubbed his heavy eyes with the knuckles of the other.

”How is your head tonight?” inquired the officer in a kind tone.

”Berry well, Ma.s.sa Geral--but berry sleepy.”

”Then sleep, Sambo; but do not fail to awaken me in time: we shall weigh anchor the very first thing in the morning, provided the fog does not continue. By the bye, you superintended the landing of the baggage--was every thing sent ash.o.r.e?”