‘The captain’s very handsome, don’t you think so?’ said Herbert one day to Lovell, when during a clear calm he had left the barque and come on board the brig. ‘He’s evidently commissioned by your girl down there at Lynn, at the High Rock Hamlet. I should not like to have such a young hero for a _rival_, Lovell, that’s all!’ said Herbert playfully. ‘I’ve been trying to get his ear for a few minutes ever since we sailed from Cuba,’ said Lovell, ‘but he keeps down below there so snugly that one don’t see much of him, though it’s all a compliment to me, Herbert, don’t you think so?’ ‘Of course, sir, for he trusts you far enough.’ ‘That’s the way I look at it, Herbert. But he’s a stern sour sort of a man, I think, and must have met with some cross--he never laughs.’ ‘He’s a gentleman, though, every inch of him,’ said Jack Herbert warmly, ‘rival or no rival, and clear grit when he’s up. Why, bless you, Bill Lovell, he didn’t make any more of blowing that mutinous Englishman into eternity than I would have done despatching a dog.’ ‘I’m his debtor at any rate,’ said Lovell, thoughtfully. ‘To be sure you are, you may give him all the thanks that you are not rotting in that cursed prison yonder at Havana, this very hour. What could I have done alone? Just nothing at all; it took him to plan, and as to that matter, to execute the business too.’ ‘How odd that this Irishman insists upon sleeping at his cabin door _every_ night when off watch; can you account for it?’ ‘Why--you see Terrence loves the captain for having done some kindness to his poor old mother when she was about to die; well you see these Irishmen can remember a kindness as well as the best of us. Ever since the attempt of Captain Brownless and the English cook upon Channing’s life, this man Terrence won’t leave the spot where he thinks the captain sleeps. He says he must have a hand in the next fight and so he guards the door.’ ‘Faithful fellow,’ said Lovell. It was the subsequent day to this conversation, that Lovell was summoned, as we have said, to the captain’s cabin. ‘Mr. Lovell,’ said the captain, ‘take a seat, sir.’ ‘Thank you, sir.’ ‘Do you know who commissioned me to do you the service I have rendered, in releasing yourself and comrade from prison?’ asked the captain. ‘I was told, sir, by Mr. Herbert, that it was she who is dearest to me of all the world. I have desired, sir, several times already to speak with you upon the subject, but I thought I discovered an unwillingness to hold conversation on your part, sir, and I have contented myself consequently with what I could learn from Mr. Herbert.’ ‘She is a good girl, sir, and I half envy you,’ said the captain. ‘Thank you, sir, I can hear her complimented all day with the utmost patience.’ ‘Egad, Mr. Lovell, couldn’t I do something in that quarter myself? What do you think? ‘Sir?’ ‘Don’t you think I might possibly succeed with the lady?’ Lovell stood wondering for a moment, and then said half in doubt--