The one, by far the most imposing in his general mien, was a youth who
had apparently seen some six or seven-and-twenty seasons. That those
seasons had not been entirely made of sunny days, and nights of repose,
was betrayed by the tinges of brown which had been laid on his
features, layer after layer in such constant succession, as to have
changed, to a deep olive, a complexion which had once been fair, and
through which the rich blood was still mantling with the finest glow of
vigorous health. His features were rather noble and manly, than
distinguished for their exactness and symmetry; his nose being far more
bold and prominent than regular in its form, with his brows projecting,
and sufficiently marked to give to the whole of the superior parts of
his face that decided intellectual expression which is already becoming
so common to American physiognomy. The mouth was firm and manly; and,
while he muttered to himself, with a meaning smile, as the curious
tailor drew slowly nigher, it discovered a set of glittering teeth,
that shone the brighter from being cased in so dark a setting. The hair
was a jet black, in thick and confused ringlets; the eyes were very
little larger than common, gray, and, though evidently of a changing
expression, rather leaning to mildness than severity. The form of this
young man was of that happy size which so singularly unites activity
with strength. It seemed to be well knit, while it was justly
proportioned, and strikingly graceful. Though these several personal
qualifications were exhibited under the disadvantages of the perfectly
simple, though neat and rather tastefully disposed, attire of a common
mariner, they were sufficiently imposing to cause the suspicious dealer
in buckram to hesitate before he would venture to address the stranger,
whose eye appeared riveted, by a species of fascination, on the reputed
slaver in the outer harbour. A curl of the upper lip, and another
strange smile, in which scorn was mingled with his mutterings, decided
the vacillating mind of the good-man. Without venturing to disturb a
reverie that seemed so profound, he left the youth leaning against the
head of the pile where he had long been standing, perfectly unconscious
of the presence of any intruder, and turned a little hastily to examine
the rest of the party.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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