attendant on the night of their pursuit of the younger Desborough, which evidently referred to that period Even on the present occasion, he had been struck by the urgency with which he contended for a return to their own shore, without pursuing their course to the extreme end of the town; nor was his unwillingness to approach the bridge overcome, until Gerald told him it was the positive order of the Commodore, that they should embrace the whole of the American lines in their inspection, and even _then_ it was with a relaxed vigor of arm that he obeyed the instruction to proceed. Determined to sound him as to his knowledge of the fact, Grantham stole gently from the bow to the stern of the canoe, and he was about to question him, when the other, grasping his arm with an expressive touch, pointed to a dark object moving across the road. Gerald turned his head, and beheld the same figure that had so recently quitted the cabin of the merchantman. Following its movements, he saw it noiselessly enter into the grounds of a cottage, opposite an old tannery, where it totally disappeared. A new direction was now given to the curiosity of the sailor. Expressing in a whisper to Sambo his determination to follow, he desired him to make for the shore near the tannery, beneath the shadow of which he might be secure, while he himself advanced, and tracked the movements of the mysterious wanderer. "Oh Massa Geral," urged the old man in the same whisper--his teeth chattering with fear--"for Hebben's sake he no go ashore. All dis a place berry bad, and dat no a livin' ting what he see yonder. Do Massa Geral take poor nigger word, and not go dere affer he ghost." "Nay, Sambo, it is no ghost, but flesh and blood, for I saw it in the brig we were foul of just now; however, be under no alarm. Armed as I am, I have nothing to fear from one individual, and if I am seen and pursued in my turn, it is but to spring in again, and before any one can put off in chase, we shall have nearly reached the opposite shore.--You shall remain in the canoe if you please, but I most certainly will see where that figure went." "Berry well, Massa Geral," and the old man spoke piquedly, although partly re-assured by the assurance that it was no ghost. "If he take he poor nigger wice he do as he like; but I no top in he canoe while he go and have him troat cut, or carry off by a debbil--I dam if he go, I go too."