Page:The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance 1832.pdf/128

Rh I wandered about, until night had closed around me, when, on turning the corner of a street I saw a person raising a poniard, and about to plunge it into the back of a tall man who had stooped, immediately in front of him, to raise something from the earth. I darted forward as quick as lightning, and dashed the weapon from his hand, while the other, hearing the noise, and turning in time to observe what had passed, struck the assassin a furious blow with a sheathed sword which he carried in his hand, and laid him breathless on the pavement, muttering at the same time some words through his teeth, which I took for Spanish curses. He next addressed me in the same language, but finding my replies were made in English, drawled out, with a twang:

" You've done me a friendly turn, young man, and I thank you for it. The deuce take that lubberly scoundrel ! -he promised me as much ; but I thought him too great a coward to attempt it. I've settled him though, and it won't cost much hereafter for his messing.'

" While he was running on in this style, I had an opportunity of observing his person more closely. He was full six feet in height, with great breadth and depth of chest, and long sinewy arms, that looked disproportioned to his legs, which were rather small, than otherwise. His face was almost hid by a redundancy of whisker and moustache, and his sunken eyes glared out like meteors from beneath a pair of dark and heavy brows. 'But who are you ? and which way are you going ? said he, looking me full in the face, when he had finished his malediction. I frankly explained my desperate circumstances ; and when my narrative, to which he had listened attentively, was concluded, he said :"

I can serve you. You are just the man I want. You say you have studied medicine. My craft lacks a doctor. I command a schooner, which you may have seen lying off the market -wharf, just under the Moro Castle. Will you go with me ?'

" In what trade are you ?' enquired I.

' Why, ' said he, hesitating a moment, may be I'm a smuggler ; may be a slaver.'

" Be it either,' I added, ' I will go with you. Necessity has no law; and if I remain here, I shall starve.'

" Come along then,' said he ; if we stay alongside this carrion much longer, the guard will catch us, and clap us in limbo.' Starting off at a rapid pace, we quickly approached the