Page:The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance 1832.pdf/132

Rh " But I would brook no restraint ; and leaping out of the hammock, drank a deep draught of water from a can which he offered me, and staggered on deck.

" As I walked aft, the captain came up from the cabin, and turning round, reached down his hand, and drew up from below the almost lifeless form of my unfortunate girl. Here,' said he to the mate, thrusting her forward, ' throw this halfdead-and-alive fool overboard. Let's see if her whining will melt the souls of the sharks .'

" Stop, monster ! ' I cried, and was about to rush upon him, when I was seized, and prevented by some of the men , who stood near, and who held me fast, notwithstanding all my struggles to get free.

" Ah, ha !' said the captain : so you're there again. I thought I had fixed your flint yesterday. But better late than never ;' and since you love the trull so dearly, you shall have her all to yourself. Lash them together, men, and tumble them overboard. It would be a pity to separate such a tender couple.'

"No, no !' said a voice from among the crew, who had assembled at the noise, which I recognised as belonging to my Irish friend. ' He has got enough, intirely ; and seeing that the woman is his sister, or his grand-mother, or some of his kin, it's but nathural that he does not like to see her mislisted.' Who disputes my orders ?' said the captain, foaming with rage.

“ ' Ï'—' I ' — ' I' —said a number of voices from the crowd ; for, as I have mentioned before, my attention to the wounded had made me a general favourite with the men. • All dispute them,' rejoined the first speaker ; for, if he has done wrong, he received punishment enough last night, in all conscience.'

" Then you mutiny, and won't obey my orders ,' said the captain.

Here the mate interposed, and for the purpose of quelling the difficulty, which seemed likely to terminate in open mutiny, advised that the girl should be put on board the ship, and left to her fate.

" Then I will accompany her,' said I.

" That you may do and welcome,' said the captain ; ' and very glad am I to get rid of you : but if we ever meet again and he shook his warning finger fiercely at me, while his eyes glared like a tiger's.

" God send that we may meet !' I replied, as I followed the mate who had carried her on board the ship, in a swoon,