Part 40 (2/2)
”Prize to her Britannic Majesty's shi+p _Nautilus_”
”Prize schooner, eh?” said the Araceful little vessel ”Wal, I am surprised I said as she looked a clipper as could sail a few”
”Your papers, please”
”Eh? Oh, suttunly Air yew an officer?”
”Yes,” replied Mark, shortly ”Your papers, please”
”Wall, I thoas pretty sood tiive in Ephrim, fetch up the felloith a villainous grin slouched to the little cabin-hatch; and by this ti the two blacks, and saving the coxswain, who held on to the chains, were aboard, Ton of the nefarious traffic, but none was visible
”Guessed yeas pirates for a moment, mister,” said the skipper ”Yew quite scarredyew ar?”
He held out a handful, which he had taken from his pocket, and all in the coolest, most matter-of-fact way
”Thanks, no,” said Mark ”I don't shed the American; ”yew needn't be shamed on it Yewr cap'en don't like it, p'r'aps; but I see yew pulling away at a cigar threw lass”
Mark turned crimson
”Needn't tell a cracker about it, squaire Here we are,” he continued, taking the papers from Ephraim--evidently his mate ”Hev a look at 'em, squaire; but I reckon if one of our officers was to board one of your traders, and ask for 'em, yewr folk'd make no end of a fizzle about it”
Mark felt uncoh the papers, which were all in the most correct style There was not a point upon which he could seize; and without soht to search the vessel, whose hold looked to be closely battened dohile there was not a sound to suggest that there were slaves on board
”We'veon the papers seemed to dance before his eyes; ”and yet I could have sworn she was a slaver”
”Find 'erey eyes twinkling; and he held out his hand for the papers
”Yes,” said Mark, returning the at Toht, squaire; that's right Theer, I shan't cut up rusty, though I ht, of course It was yety, I s'pose”
”Yes, of course,” said Mark
”That's right, squaire Allus dety I ain't riled But yew'll trade that barl or tehites flour with ot you shall hev What de say to soood”
”I--a--thank--you, no,” said Mark, looking wildly round in the hope of finding so his men to search the vessel; ”but you shall have the flour if I can find it”
”That's what I call real civil,Mark toward the side, for the lad gave way, feeling that he had no excuse for staying ”Smart schooner that o' yewrn Guess yew could sail round ar?”
”No, no: thanks,” cried Mark, turning to To”He's too many for us And yet I could swear to it”
Disappointed, confused, and angry at his position, Mark felt that he ive up, and that a farto his o down into the boat, and then, telling the skipper to colance forward at the hatches, straining his ears to catch the slightest sound, roan or cry, to seize the vessel at once and search Without such a sign or sound he dared not It would have been overstepping his authority
”Ready, mister? Guess I'll come in my own boat,” said the American; and he backed Mark farther to the side