The Sea-Witch

diate roof, four new comers, nearly each of which was actuated by some contrary purpose or design. Mrs. Huntington was exceedingly desirous to obtain passage up the coast to Sie

e, Captain Bramble felt in no haste to leave port for several reasons. First, he had a suspicion that he should soon be able to trip up the heels of his rival, as it regarded this bu

ed party, as the reader may well imagine, after the audacious treachery which she had already evinced; but she was comparatively passive now, and seemed quietly to bide her time for accomplishing her second resolve touching him she once loved but now hated, as we

he light of a protector, the widow quite approved of his intimacy, and indeed, as far as propriety would permit, seconded his suit with her daughter. When in India, she had looked most favorably upon Captain Bramble's i

, mo

, my

do not like Captain Bramble, th

e him, m

her, not

he not ge

es

good f

oubt

andsom

n Bramble can never be my husband," she said, in a mild

then have a clear field, and be able to win her hand under the peculiar circumstances surrounding her. Thus moved, he redoubled his watchfulness touching the captain's movements, satisfied that he should be able ere long to detect him

's sake, many impertinences that he would otherwise have instantly asserted. But he marked out for himself a course, and he resolved to adhere to it. Captain Bramble was not only a suitor of Miss Huntington's, but an old and intimate friend, as he learned from her family, and th

he lady, "upon a person whom you acknowledge y

ntington, to read the character of such an unp

Huntington, calmly, "and I have not only formed a very different opinion of h

er her protection," replied the discomfited office

remarks upon Captain Ratlin, whose eyes flashed fire, and who seized his traducer by the throat and bent him nearly double to the earth, with an ease

u can call this lady whose name you have just referred to, friend; the man

all answer for this, sir, and at once. This is not the spot-you must give me satisf

t any especial favor at the hands of the lady whom you have named; but I repeat, sir, that my respect

ad been a silent but trembling witness of the entire scen

o be the captain of the ship and surgeon. At the same moment there shot out from a little nook or bay in the rear of the barracoons, a light skiff propelled by a single oarsman, who rowed his bark in true seamen style, cross-handed, while a second party sat in the stern. The rower

pulls the oars," said Capt

d pulls those instruments as

fellow has seen the world and has his notions of ho

row; the fellow could make his fortune as a

impatiently, to his men, as he saw that the skiff wo

ive and effect a reconciliation. Not that he dreaded bloodshed, it was a pastime to him, but because it jarred so manifestly with his interests to have his friend run the risk of his life. Both of the principals were silent. Captain Bramble was exceedingly red in the face, a

rds, "one, two, three," by the surgeon; and that individual, having placed his box of instrument with professiona

n, are yo

inclination of the head, an

two, t

heard, and the next moment he was observed gazing intently upon his adversary, to see whether he had wounded

d hung quietly at his side, and his face still remained undisturbed. He had kept his word, and would not f

aged lion, until at last, coming opposite and

and to retain a perpendicular positi

he air, and at the exact moment when the power of gravitation turned the piece towards the earth, he quickly raised his arm and fired,

ir, is hardly so sur

let us on board, if he should insist upon at second shot, we should be obliged to gi

ho am so sure at a dozen paces;" and the English officer continued to chafe a

form of a female, which both at once recognized to be that of Miss Huntington, who stood there pale as death, and wh

arful errand. Have eit

it of morning sport," said

e injured, for I

harm done to fles

she leaned upon the young commander's proffered arm,

secretly repaired thither with hopes to have seen the blood of one, if not both, flow, even unto death. And this was Maud, poor deluded, revengeful girl, who had permitted one passi

g her father and Captain Ratlin had done, and now, as she saw her hated white rival leaning upon his arm, so pale, so confiding, and he addressing her

d not soon land from his vessel, but mused alone in the solitude of his cabin upon the