"What can be the matter with Mr. Morton lately?" said the old seaman to his second officer; "he was never so fond of going ashore anywhere else, and now here he's off and into his boat, like a struck black-fish."

 

"Why, I some expect," said Coffin, "there's a petticoat in the wind."

 

"The devil! who?"

 

"Well, I rather guess it's that pretty blue-eyed, English-looking girl, that came on board with old Don Blow-me-down, when he first came in here."

 

"Ah! I recollect her. I thought Morton seemed to take a shine to her."

 

"They say she's Don Strombolo's niece."

 

"They may tell that to the marines; she don't look no more like the rest on 'em than the devil looks like a parson."

 

"I don't know" said Coffin gravely, "how the devil looks; but they say he can put on the appearance of an angel of light, and I don't see why 'taint jist as easy for him to put on a black coat, and come the parson over us poor sinners."

 

"Well, well; she's a sweet pretty girl, and looks kind o' as though she wasn't over and above in good spirits."

 

"Well, now; I some guess I know a little something about that."

 

"Why how the d---- did you come to make yourself busy?"

 

"Why, you see, there's an old woman keeps a pulparia[1] close to the old Don's rookery."

 

"Hum! so, Mr. Sam Coffin, when you're cruising for information, you overhaul the women's papers first and foremost."

 

"Why you see, Captain Hazard, if you ask one of these men here a civil question, all you can get out of the critter is that d--d 'quien sabe,' and blast the any thing else."

 

"Can sarvy! why that sounds like Chinaman's talk; what does it mean?"

 

"It means 'who knows,' and that's the way they answer pretty much all questions."

 

"Well, what was't you was going to say about the girl?"

 

"Well, the old woman told me the girl's mother was an Englishwoman."

 

"I told you she wasn't clear Spanish--and being a girl, so, why she takes altogether after the mother."

 

"And the old woman said furdermore, that her mother wasn't a Catholic; she was a what-d'ye-call-'em."

 

"A Protestant, I s'pose you mean."

 

"Yes, yes, a Protestant--that's it. Well, you see, her mother did not die till this girl, her darter, was nigh upon sixteen years old, and it's like the old lady eddicated her arter the same religion she was brought up in herself."

 

"Aye, now I begin to see into it all."

 

"Well, so you see, as nigh as I can make out, for the old woman wouldn't talk right out--only kept hinting along like."

 

"Hum! a woman generally can hint a d--d sight more than when she speaks right out."

 

"Well, so it seems this Isabella, being half English and whole Protestant, won't exactly steer by their compass in religious matters."

 

"Poor girl! poor innocent little creature!"

 

"Well, I got a talking 'long with the old woman, and, arter a good deal of trouble, I got hold of pretty much the whole history about this 'ere girl. So she told me, amongst other things, that the girl's uncle wanted her to marry one of them officers that was aboard that day."

 

"Which of them?"

 

"That thundering cockroach-legged thief, that was copper-fastened with gold lace and brass buttons chock up to his ears, with a thundering great broadsword triced up to his larboard quarter and slung with brass chains."

 

"Ah! I recollect him."

 

"And so do I, blast his profile. He cut more capers than the third mate of a Guineaman over a dead nigger, and went skylarking about decks like a monkey in a china-shop."

 

"I took notice that he looked marline-spikes at Mr. Morton for paying so much attention to the girl."

 

"Aye, that he did; but I worked him a traverse in middle latitude, sailing on that tack. I got him and the rest on 'em into the steerage, and Mr. Morton and the girl had a good half hour's discourse to themselves in the cabin."

 

"I should be sorry to have Mr. Morton try to engage the poor girl's affections; and if I thought he had any improper intentions towards her, I would go ashore immediately, and speak to the old governor about it."

 

"Well now, Captain Hazard, I guess there isn't no danger on that tack. Mr. Morton may go adrift now and then among the girls, and where's the man that doesn't? No, no; Charlie Morton isn't none of them sort that would gain a poor girl's affections only to ruin her. No no; he's too honorable and noble-spirited for such a rascally action as that."

 

"Well, I am of your opinion. So now, Mr. Coffin, we'll set up our fore-rigging for a full do; for we must sail Wednesday evening, right or wrong."

 

"Ay, ay, sir."

 

When Morton returned to the ship at night, he hastened to lay before Captain Hazard the history of his love, and his plans for bringing it to a successful crisis, declaring that his intentions were strictly honorable, and that the lady might easily pass upon the crew as a passenger. The old seaman heard him to an end, as he urged his request with all the fervor of youthful eloquence and love; and, having scratched his head for a while, as if to rouse himself, and be convinced that he was awake, replied:

 

"A queer sort of business this altogether, my son; I don't exactly know what to make of it--what will your father say to your bringing home a young cow-whale, in addition to your share of the oil?"

 

"Make yourself easy on that score, my dear sir; I know my father wishes to have me quit going to sea, and marry."

 

"Yes, but is not a wife, brought into your family in this way, liable to be looked upon as a sort of contraband article--run goods like?"

 

"I am not much afraid of that, on my father's part," said Morton; "and if," he continued, laughing, "if the grave old ladies of my acquaintance find fault, I can quiet them in a moment, by quoting the conduct of the tribe of Benjamin, in a similar situation, by way of precedent."

 

"Ah, Charlie! your scheme, I am afraid, is all top-hamper, and no ballast; wont the enemy give chase? I am sure that Don--Don--what's his name, that young officer, more than suspects your good standing in the young lady's affections: wont he alarm the coast, and put the old folks up to rowing guard round her, so that you can't communicate? Ay, that he will."

 

"Trust me for that, sir; if I cannot weather upon any Spaniard that ever went unhanged, either Creole or old Castilian, I'll agree to go to the mines for life."

 

"Don't be too rash, my dear boy; though the Spaniards are only courageous behind shot-proof walls, and when they number three to one, they are deceitful as well as cruel; and, if their suspicions are once excited, they will murder you at once, and her too, poor girl! and think they are doing God service, because you are both Protestants."

 

"I can only repeat, trust to my prudence and management; I have too much at stake to hazard it lightly."

 

"Then remember, Charles, we sail Wednesday evening: it will be star-light, but not too dark to see your way. I will defer sailing till eleven o'clock, if that will suit your schemes."

 

"It will exactly; or if you sail the moment I return, so much the better."

 

With these words, they separated--Morton, overjoyed at the completion of his prelim............