The Water-Witch; Or, the Skimmer of the Seas: A TaleCooper, James Fenimore
General
The Water-Witch; Or, the Skimmer of the Seas: A Tale
Cooper, James Fenimore
Sea stories
There was strong emotion in the voice of the mariner of the shawl,
notwithstanding his high bearing. Squeezing the hand of Ludlow, he
passed back into his own barge, with the ease and steadiness of one who
made the ocean his home.
“Adieu!” he repeated, signing to his men to pull in the direction of
the shoals, where it was certain the ship could not follow. “We may
meet again; until then, adieu.”
“We are sure to meet, with the return of light.”
“Believe it not, brave gentleman. Our lady will thrust the spars under
her girdle, and pass a fleet unseen.—A sailor’s blessing on you—fair
winds and a plenty; a safe landfall, and a cheerful home! Deal kindly
by the boy, and, in all but evil wishes to my vessel, success light on
your ensign!”
The seamen of both boats dashed their oars into the water at the same
instant, and the two parties were quickly without the hearing of the
voice.
CHAPTER XXVII.
“—Did I tell this,
Who would believe me?”
Measure for Measure.
The time of the interview related in the close of the preceding
chapter, was in the early watches of the night. It now becomes our duty
to transport the reader to another, that had place several hours later,
and after day had dawned on the industrious burghers of Manhattan.
There stood, near one of the wooden wharves which lined the arm of the
sea on which the city is so happily placed, a dwelling around which
there was every sign that its owner was engaged in a retail commerce,
that was active and thriving, for that age and country. Notwithstanding
the earliness of the hour, the windows of this house were open; and an
individual, of a busy-looking face, thrust his head so often from one
of the casements, as to show that he already expected the appearance of
a second party in the affair that had probably called him from his bed,
even sooner than common. A tremendous rap at the door relieved his
visible uneasiness; and, hastening to open it, he received his visitor,
with much parade of ceremony, and many protestations of respect, in
person.
“This is an honor, my lord, that does not often befall men of my humble
condition,” said the master of the house, in the flippant utterance of
a vulgar cockney; “but I thought it would be more agreeable to your
lordship, to receive the a—a—here, than in the place where your
lordship, just at this moment, resides. Will your lordship please to
rest yourself, after your lordship’s walk?”
“I thank you, Carnaby,” returned the other, taking the offered seat,
with an air of easy superiority. “You judge with your usual discretion,
as respects the place, though I doubt the prudence of seeing him at
all. Has the man come?”
“Doubtless, my lord; he would hardly presume to keep your lordship
waiting, and much less would I countenance him in so gross a
disrespect. He will be most happy to wait on you, my lord, whenever
your lordship shall please.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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