"Oh, as for danger," answered Harding, laughing, "I did not say that, love. I don't know what life would be worth without danger. Every man is in danger all day long; and I suppose that we are only given life just to feel the pleasure of it by the chance of losing it. But no dangers but the common ones, Kate. I'll give up the trade, as you have made me promise; and I shall have enough by that time to buy out the whole vessel, in which I've got shares, and what between that and the boats, we shall do very well. You put me in mind, with your fears, of a song that wicked boy, little Starlight, used to sing. I learned it from hearing him: a more mischievous little dog does not live; but he has got a sweet pipe." "Sing it, John--sing it!" cried Kate; "I love to hear you sing, for it seems as if you sing what you are thinking." "No, I wont sing it," answered Harding, "for it is a sad sort of song, and that wont do when I am so happy." "Oh, I like sad songs!" said the girl; "they please me far more than all the merry ones." "Oh, pray sing it, Harding!" urged the widow; "I am very fond of a song that makes me cry." "This wont do that," replied the smuggler; "but it is sadder than some that do, I always think. However, I'll sing it, if you like;" and in a fine, mellow, bass voice, to a very simple air, with a flattened third coming in every now and then, like the note of a wintry bird, he went on:-- SONG. "Life's like a boat, Rowing--rowing Over a bright sea, On the waves to float, Flowing--flowing Away from her lea. "Up goes the sheet! Sailing--sailing, To catch the rising breeze, While the winds fleet, Wailing--wailing, Sigh o'er the seas. "She darts through the waves, Gaily--gaily, Scattering the foam. Beneath her, open graves, Daily--daily, The blithest to entomb. "Who heeds the deep, Yawning--yawning For its destined prey, When from night's dark sleep, Dawning--dawning, Wakens the bright day? "Away, o'er the tide! Fearless--fearless Of all that lies beneath; Let the waves still hide, Cheerless--cheerless, All their stores of death.