“The meeting of vessels, or the renewal of any maritime experience,
never fails to revive my earliest recollections, love. But surely that
was an extraordinary being, who has at length shown himself in the
slaver!”
“For a slaver, most extraordinary!”
Wyllys leaned her head on her hand for an instant, and then turned to
seek the person of Wilder. The young mariner was standing near,
studying the expression of her countenance, with an interest scarcely
less remarkable than her own air of thought.
“Tell me, young man, is yonder individual the Commander of the slaver?”
“He is.”
“You know him?”
“We have met.”
“And he is called——”
“The Master of yon ship. I know no other name.”
“Gertrude, we will seek our cabin. When the land is leaving us, Mr
Wilder will have the goodness to let us know.”
The latter bowed his assent, and the ladies then left the deck. The
“Caroline” had now the prospect of getting speedily to sea. In order to
effect this object, Wilder had every thing, that would draw, set to the
utmost advantage. One hundred times, at least, however, did he turn his
head, to steal a look at the vessel he had left behind. She ever lay as
when they passed—a regular, beautiful but motionless object, in the
bay. From each of these furtive examinations, our adventurer invariably
cast an excited and impatient glance at the sails of his own ship;
ordering this to be drawn tighter to the spar beneath, or that to be
more distended along its mast.
The effect of so much solicitude, united with so much skill, was to
urge the Bristol trader through her element at a rate she had rarely,
if ever, surpassed It was not long before the land ceased to be seen on
her two beams, and then it was only to be traced in the blue islands in
their rear, or in a long, dim horizon, to the north and west, where the
limits of the vast Continent stretches for countless leagues. The
passengers were now summoned to take their parting look at the land,
and the officers were seen noting their departures. Just before the day
shut in, and ere the islands were entirely sunk into the waves, Wilder
ascended to an upper yard bearing in his hand a glass. His gaze,
towards the haven he had left, was long, anxious, and abstracted. But
his descent was distinguished by a more quiet eye, and a calmer mien. A
smile, like that of success played about his lips; and he gave his
orders clearly, in a cheerful, encouraging voice. They were obeyed as
briskly. The elder mariners pointed to the seas, as they cut through
them, and affirmed that never had the “Caroline” made such progress.
The mates cast the log, and nodded their approbation as one announced
to the other the unwonted speed of the ship. In short, content and
hilarity reigned on board; for it was deemed that their passage was
commenced under such auspices as would lead it to a speedy and a
prosperous termination. In the midst of these encouraging omens, the
sun dipped into the sea, illuming, as it fell, a wide reach of the
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