swear

"Swear him then, Master Stenseil, him," said he, in tones differently modulated from those he had used during the conference with his captives. God knows! I would fain not have that too on my head."

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'Signor," continued he, addressing Tremano, while he bowed to the lady, "remember that thyself and daughter are on your parole of honour; I will land you in two hours after the vessel gets under weigh."

Walter Langley, previously to the conference just narrated, had separated from Mark. Muffled in his cloak, and pulling his hat over his brows, he partly concealed himself behind the mainmast, and watched with intense anxiety and interest the scene we have just described. Thick and short was his respiration, and hard and quick beat his heart against a bosom in which so many contending emotions arose. When Isabella Tremano raised that look of appeal to heaven with the tear struggling in her full dark eye, scarcely could he refrain from rushing forward to dare those who should attempt to offer her insult or wrong. His sense, however, of Mark Langley's violent and ungovernable passions, and of the consequences

that might probably ensue, detrimental alike to the cause he wished to assist, as well as to his own safety, should he thus attempt to intrude, deterred him from so rash and precipitate a step. Already in the melée of the day before, had he stayed the arm of the pirate when in the act of slaying the disarmed merchant; and although this interference was compromised by the avowal Mark had made him a few minutes ago, he feared any further attempt to thwart his purposes, might not only involve him in difficulty, but tend to injure the cause of those whom he was most anxious to serve. He waited therefore, with impatience, the result of the treaty, and after the captives had retired from deck, he resumed his self-possession, and calmly joined Mark, who was giving instructions preparatory to the sailing of the prize, and the landing of the merchant and his daughter.

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'Stenseil," said the pirate, " I must dispense with your valuable services this trip, my man of the goose-quill-my interlocutor and send thee ashore among yon Islanders."

"Sir, sir,-captain! consider," exclaimed the little man, looking, while he spoke, at his spindle shanks and emaciated figure; "con

sider, sir, my bodily weakness, and my inability to enforce the due observance of the conditions entered into by the prisoners should they refuse to abide by them; besides, they may treat me unkindly."

"Tush man! put thee on a long sword; gird thee with a pistol or two-look big, an that be possible-swagger and play the bravo, and tell them, thy looks belie thee; for though a pigmy in body, thou art a very giant in soul!"

"Master Stenseil," said Walter, smiling at the terror assumed by the miser, whose only anxiety was occasioned by the thoughts of leaving his all on board, "what guerdon wilt thou give me to abide here in thy place? I will do so for thee if Captain Langley permit the exchange."

"What have I to give thee, good Master Walter?" said Stenseil, "save thanks a poor man's benison, for thy kindness and truly thou art young and a proper man for the purpose; thy good sword and brave presence will repel the ill usage, that will assuredly happen to such as I."

Mark stared at Walter, and knew not whether to take this sudden resolution of his as a jest or

not. On Walter Langley, however, seriously repeating his wish to supersede Stenseil in his appointment, he looked slily, and whispered him, "Sits the wind in that quarter? the blackeyed Portuguese, eh? Well, Wat," continued he, taking the young man's hand kindly in his, "I consent to this arrangement, but I did not think thy love of adventure would so soon have yielded to the attractions of a petticoat."

Walter had gained his point; but something bordering on self-reproach as to the part he had acted, smote him when he betook himself to his cabin to prepare for his landing, and reflected on the events of the morning. He could not but censure himself for having attained the end he aimed at, by means which partook of the character of subterfuge,-a measure which he deemed derogatory to a gentleman and a man of spirit. "I have," said he, "deceived Mark Langley. 'Tis true that he is stern, and his present mode of life objectionable; his passions too, are violent; yet is their impulse sometimes as powerful in the cause of good, as of evil. I may have trusted him, and he might have befriended me. Ah! but how know I that Isabella still loves me; and to use

Mark Langley's influence over the present fortunes of her father to favour my suit,-I spurn the base idea; after all," continued he, musingly, "I have only concealed from Mark my knowledge of the captives; my fault is a negative one, and imparted by prudence to watch over their safety, should their lives have been menaced, or in danger. If in this instance, then, artifice be a crime, prudence was my monitor, and love must be my excuse.'

CHAPTER IV.

"As if a man were author of himself,

And knew no other kin."-Coriolanus.

" "TIs a wise child that knows his own father," says the somewhat musty proverb of Sancho. Fair and gentle reader, we crave your pardon, should you deem it brings with it aught of disparagement to thy gentler sex, and accept as a plea for our introducing it here at the commencement of the chapter, the aptitude it bears to the case of our hero; who, moreover, pleads doubly guilty to the want of that peculiar