The Water-Witch or, The Skimmer of the Seas

thing appeared

ml

erved a voice, that came from one, who was not far from the commander of the Coquette, while

or who dares to pry into my movements?

ds or only on the face of man. As for looking into your movements, Captain Ludlow, I have watched too many big ships in my time, to turn

owever, the young man endeavored to emulate the coolness which, notwithstanding his inferior condition, imparted to the air of the other something that was imposing, if it were not absolutely authoritative. Perhaps the singularity of the a

t, may be accounted sufficiently bold; but he who

kless hero of the sash. "Captain Ludlow, we meet on equal terms

t ill applies to men of

s marines, is not Captain Ludlow alone, on a sea bluff, with a crutch no better than his own arm, and a stout heart. As the first, he is like a spar supported by backstays and forestays, braces and standing rigging; while, as the latter, he is the stick, which keep

ua which held Alida and her friends, and which, at that instant, shot out from beneath the cover of the hill into the broad o

ulted comfort and the skies, would have preferred a passage in Her Majesty's ship Coquette, to one in yonder dan

e," cried Ludlow, again facing the int

hesitated. Let the commissioned officer of the Queen speak bold

edge of my offer to convey the lady and her friends to the

though the liberality to her friends is not an act of so clear explanation.

I believe it, for here is cover at hand to conceal you

a member of parliament turning to a new leaf in his conscience,

nts you coul

n by a lady who is too much of a coquette herself, to

of the tree. "The language and the acts of the girl are in contradiction; and I am a fool to be trifled with, like a midshipman fre

nough to be heard, I answer t

so clever a seaman should b

comes first, nothing could be more agreeable t

realms?" demanded Ludlow, with a little of the pretension that, when speaking of its privileges,

same way no one can be readier than I,

ah, that I have the right to command your services, without entering into a parley for them;

are here alone, and your Honor will account it no boasting, if I say that a man, well limbed and active, who stands six feet between plank and earline, is not likely to be led against his will, like a yawl towing at the stern of a four-and-forty. I am a seaman, S

me understand, you are

a prettier sea-boat, or a swifter, than the one which sails under your own orders. A seaman of your station, Captain Ludlow, is not now to learn, that a man s

a thorough man-of-war's man is as impudent on shore, as he is obedient afloat.-Is t

owards the open ocean, "for we have a wide look-out from this windy bluff. Here

ining white should be the canvas of

e in and out, like water-rats on a wharf, at any hour of the

ch as your swift rover we

sleepless nights and idle chases. I was once running down the coast of Italy, between the island of Corsica and the main, when one of the

e from the distant ocean, like one who was satisfied his sense

hristo and Elba, had all been sunk some hours, and we were on the yards, keeping a look-out for a land-fall on the Roman coast. A low, thick bank of drifting fog lay along the sea, in-shore of us, which all believed to be the sweat of the land, and thought no more of; though none wished to enter it, for that is a coast where foul airs rise, and through which the

interested in spite of his

en, to warn us off the land, by a supernatural beacon. The sight was in itself altogether out of nature and surprising. As the night thickened, it grew brighter and more glowing, as if 'twere meant in earn

nd what did you, to come at the c

bolder mariners. Glad enough was I to see, with th

e of that object w

nt to be seen some leagues at sea, and that, favored by our position and the mists that hung above the low grounds, we had seen its upper works, looming above the fogs, and lighted for some brilliant ceremony; but we were all too old in seaman's exp

ed into closer. It may truly have been a church, for there stands an e

ean, as if indisposed to regard the waste of water longer. "It is now twelve years since that sight was seen, and though a seaman of many voya

e bay. "That obstinate old Dutchman--I say, Sir, that Mr. Alderman Van Beverout has greater confidence in this description of craft than I feel myself. I like not the looks of yonder clo

heat the look-out of a man that has the advantage of some ten or fifteen years' more practice in marine appearan

been a gull! for I confess the object small; yet it had the steadiness and size of a distant sail!

or for having spoken, before I had given myself away to the Queen; who is a la

you may be accounted a model of civility! But a mariner of your pretension sho

r Honor spoke, is

here are those who think that he, who has gone so far, has not stopt short of the end. But the rep

to have heard of that rover, before his name came into the discourse between me and the schipper of the boat, that plies between this landing and the city. I am not, altogether, what I seem, Captain Ludlow; and when further acquaintance and hard service shall have brought me more before the eye

he practised organs drank in the assurance, which so much physical promise afforded, of the aid of a bold and active mariner. Rather amused than offended b

me of the 'Water-Witch,' and of him who commands her, under the fit appellation of the 'Skimmer of the Seas,' have not yet reached your ears. It is now five summers, since orders have been in the colonies for the cruisers

a presumption that your Honor already finds too bold, if one may judge by a displeased eye, by asking if report speaks to th

n Ludlow, who perhaps remembered that the freedom of their in

r India, and who has long since disappeared, though no one can say whither he has gone. But this 'Skimmer of the Seas' is

is said to laugh at the swiftest cruiser out of England! As to his figure, I have heard little good of it. 'Tis said, he is some soured officer o

enance among his fellows," said he of the sash. "This cannot be the same, if inde

not, that I give but little faith to the report.-The periagua has the wind more at west, and the

eturned the other, glancing a quick but keen look over the horizon in the of

sea; and it is time, Master Tiller, that I know i

s for a berth, Sir, one always wishes to be captain even though he may be compelled to eat his

ears and experience need not be told, th

udlow, you are a man of honor, and will not

man, he is safe w

future messmates, and to judge of their characters; to see if the ve

"this impudence almos

ain Ludlow of the Coquette would gladly tie himself, for better for worse, to a fair lady who

r in thy effrontery-and

a long compact, there should be liberty of choice. Has not your mariner a taste, as well as your lover? The harpings and counter of his ship are the waist and shoulders; the rigging, the ringlets; the cut and fit of the sails, the fa

ds my power to hunt you out of their cover, at pleasure. But I take you at your word. The Coquette shall receive

sash, for the first time respectfully raising his canvas cap to the youn

on the part of the inferior, until they reached the shore, and came in full view of the pennant of the Queen; when, with the

with a fresh southwesterly breeze. In all these movements, there was nothing to attract attention. Notwithstanding the sarcastic allusions of Alderman Van Beverout, the cruiser was far from