The Sea-Witch

e stars looked down coldly upon those wrecked adventurers, the mate who sat at the helm was observed to be peering in the boat's wake, as though looking for

s with his hands, he gazed back into the dim night air with intense interest, while the re

t-water. But I cannot see hull or canvass in this darkness," said the mate,

of a ship upon the water, farther than you coul

some rickety block, but sound I did hear that came

ment, "what is that?" pointing off nearly

, as true as heaven!" adding, "shout, sho

nvass was visible now, but soon the dark hull of a vessel appeared, and the mate hastened to light a lantern and hoist it to attract their attention. The signal was seemingly

ude where pirates intercept the homeward bound ships sometimes, though acco

assistance that the ship appears willing to g

nother night in this open boat, madam, a

vessel drifted with a side impetus towards the tiny craft, while the figure of a man was

o bring her side on to the ship, and opening his arms

rn, manly voice from the quarter-deck of t

ship gathered in the line until the boat was safely moored under her quarter. No words were exchanged, until the ladies, first, and the seamen next, were taken on board: the fact of their being wrecked and in distress being too apparent to r

hands who had been saved from the wreck soon mingled with the crew on the forecastle of the "Sea Witch," and told their story there, while the mate and the ladies were receive

es in detail, not forgetting the phantom ship which passed them in the gale, and which had caused such consternation on board the wrecked Indiaman. But his story in this particular was unfortunately spoiled, when Captain Ratlin told him positively that he was at that mom

r course, and had thus brought her in sight of the Bengal at that critical moment when it would have been impossible to have rendere

them of full protection, and that he would land them at some port from whence they could take ship for England. A very few hours placed him on the best of terms with his passengers, for there was that frank, and open discourse of manner with him, which his countenance promised, while he felt

eing delighted and entertained by the sketches he gave her of sea life and wild adventure upon the ocean, elicited by her suggestion. The mother, too, was well-pleased with the profoun

he mother, as they sat together, her daughter and the young commander, upon

"we are, that is, yes, we are on a trading v

cussed, to the delight of the daughter, who dwelt with evident pleasure upon the manly tones of the captain's voice, which seemed to have some secret charm upon her. Eve

ne day, after she had been shown about the decks, at her own request, where she had marked the heavy calibre o

t," he answered again, evasively, as he called her attention to some distant

nd

d the gentle being by

ded the captain, without

d an inhospitable shor

, and can despatch you to Sierra Leone, from

shouted th

k trumpet and abruptly turning from her to whom he had

the larboard beam, si

heavy lift of those topsails tell what there must be below to su

t in which she was put at once on the opposite tack and steer boldly away from the shore which had just been made, she coul

she felt that he could not be a pirate. True, the vessel even to her inexperienced eye was very strongly manned, and there was a severity of discipline observed on board that was very

as she had made them, while from the manner in which the stranger steered, it was doubtful whether his lookout had made out the "Sea Witch" at all-and so Captai

"for vessels on the coast to so dread meeting each other as to deli

ry liberties on board such vessels as they happen to overhaul," was t

moment, which were bent anxiously upon his face, as though she would

ds her own and her mother's safety and comfort. Both shall be my sole care until you are safely landed u

f my looks betrayed any anxiety, it was not fo

that worth your anxiety?" he asked, wit

"you have been preserver, protector, and friend, and it we

t it seemed not in the least indelicate or forwa

e one, and now that you express an interest in a poor wanderer's fate, you attach to it a value that he himself has never regarded it as

his companion, "You are n

ad as tha

ou are

ning from her and moodily walking the dec