‘And during all this time I have been lying idle and inactive in a Spanish prison,’ said Lovell. ‘I’m all impatience, sir, to join the glorious service of liberty.’ ‘I have been thinking,’ continued Channing, ‘that the barque yonder will be no poor acquisition to the force of the colonists, and then we have quite a large amount of powder and small arms on board which are much needed by the beseiging army.’ ‘Very true, sir, no doubt,’ said Lovell in reply. ‘We shall be on the coast in a few days according to my reckoning, and may perhaps hope to fall in with some English craft that we can make a prize of.’ ‘We must look out sharp for ourselves first, Mr. Lovell,’ said the captain, ‘for the harbor of Boston literally swarms with men of war.’ ‘I beg pardon, sir, but--’ ‘But what, Mr. Lovell?’ ‘I was about to ask you, sir, if we had ever met before.’ ‘I believe you have seen me every day, Mr. Lovell, since you came on board the Constance. I have certainly seen you.’ ‘I mean, sir, some time since.’ ‘We may have met in Boston.’ ‘Perhaps it is so,’ said Lovell, but positively I never knew a countenance make such an impression upon me.’ ‘I hope you are pleased with your captain, sir.’ ‘Certainly, captain--excuse me--or rather my seeming impertinence, but really I was a little lost in thought. Why, Heaven bless me, sir, you resemble the Campbell family at Lynn enough to be a member.’ ‘I’m told that I am rather dark for an American. Are the family of whom you speak peculiar in this respect?’ ‘Not at all, sir.’ ‘Where’s the resemblance, then?’ ‘That is the very matter that has so puzzled me for the last five minutes, sir, for were you of lighter complexion--’ ‘Well, sir?’ ‘I--I--God of Heaven,’ said Lovell, ‘how like her? ‘What puzzles you now, Mr. Lovell?’ ‘I was thinking of home, sir,’ said Lovell, thoughtfully. ‘Happy thoughts, I hope.’ ‘Oh, yes,’ said Lovell abstractedly. ‘You appear surprised at something, Mr. Lovell’ ‘Yes, sir, that is--’ said Lovell, gazing at the captain with his mouth absolutely wide open with surprise. ‘William!’ ‘Fanny!’ The two were instantly clasped in each other’s arms. ‘My own Fanny,’ said Lovell. ‘Ever thine own,’ was the response. ‘Brave girl, why this is almost a miracle!’ ‘Without Heaven’s blessing it would all have failed, William; let us thank Heaven then for the happy issue.’ ‘But I cannot believe that a female, a mere girl of but twenty years, could accomplish what thou hast done, Fanny; how can it be possible? Thou hast compassed that which would have done credit to a naval captain,’ and he strained her again to his breast. ‘And I have been here in this brig with you these four days and my heart did not tell me that I was near you; how can this be true?’ ‘No wonder, you thought me as dusky as a negro.’ ‘I did not once suspect that you were colored.’ ‘It is stain put on for a more perfect disguise.’ ‘Most perfectly done.’