‘I beg pardon, sir.’ ‘For what do you beg pardon, Mr. Lovell?’ asked the captain. ‘I don’t exactly understand you, sir.’ ‘You are very dull.’ ‘I fear I am, sir.’ ‘Well, say for instance, then, if I should make you a present of this brig, all her equipments and armament, wouldn’t you be willing to give up the lady and become the captain and owner of the fastest and best privateer that sails out of the colonies? What say you, Mr. Lovell?’ Lovell paused for a moment in thought, not to consider the proposition that was made to him, but the idea struck him that the man before him was the _late captain of the king’s cutter, Burnet_, whom he had never seen and knew only by description. What could possibly have induced him to undertake his deliverance from prison? ‘I see it all,’ said Lovell to himself, ‘Fanny has made this service the price of her hand, and the reward he will receive will be the death blow to my happiness.’ Lovell in his agitation rose and walked the cabin hurriedly; at length turning to the captain, he said-- ‘Captain Channing, or whatever be your name, I beg pardon, sir, I mean no disrespect to you, far from it, I am already deeply your debtor; but if any other man had made me that proposition, I would have fought him to the last gasp. Death, sir,’ said Lovell warming himself with the thought, ‘is the girl of one’s heart to be made a marketable article of?’ ‘Excuse me, Mr. Lovell, said the captain, endeavoring to suppress some evident feelings in the matter, ‘but I designed to see if you were worthy of so good a girl. For let me tell you, sir, it is solely by her solicitations that I am here.’ ‘I am gratified, sir, at this explanation,’ said Lovell, gratefully, ‘but I fear that I can never repay the debt I owe you.’ ‘The less said upon this point the better, Mr. Lovell. I am paid through a source that you will be made acquainted with.’ ‘My gratitude is none the less, sir,’ said Lovell, half trembling at the import of the captain’s last words. ‘I suppose you have heard of the state of affairs at Boston, Mr. Lovell,’ asked the captain, evidently bent upon changing the conversation. ‘The town is besieged by the Continentals I’m told.’ ‘Yes, and in a starving condition.’ ‘I’m impatient to have a hand in the drama,’ said Lovell. ‘Herbert has doubtless told you of the affairs of Lexington Concord and Breed’s. The Americans have taught the king’s troops at least that they have got no mean enemy to contend with in the colonists, and that the boasted dower of the royal army is not invincible. We left the continental army stretched from Roxbury to Cambridge, over an extent of twelve miles, and under command of Washington, seconded by Putnam, Lee, and such of the most able men of the province as had come together. There will be sharp work there, ere long, if it has not already taken place,’ said the captain.