A quarter of an hour of this characteristic, and it is to be inferred
agreeable navigation, brought the boat to the mouth of the inlet. Here a
powerful effort forced her into the tide's-way, and she might be said to
put forth on her voyage. But while the black crew were trimming the sails,
and making the other necessary preparations for departure, a voice was
heard hailing them from the shore, with an order rather than a request,
that they would stay their movements.
"Hilloa, the periagua!" it cried. "Haul over your head-sheet, and jam the
tiller down into the lap of that comfortable-looking old gentleman. Come:
bear a hand, my hummers! or your race-horse of a craft will get the bit
into its mouth, and run away with you."
This summons produced a pause in the movements of the crew. After
regarding each other, in surprise and admiration, the watermen drew the
head-sheet over, put the helm a-lee, without however invading the lap of
the Alderman, and the boat became stationary, at the distance of a few
rods from the shore. While the new passenger was preparing to come off in
a yawl, those who awaited his movements had leisure to examine his
appearance, and to form their different surmises concerning his character.
It is scarcely necessary to say, that the stranger was a son of the ocean.
He was of a firmly knit and active frame, standing exactly six feet in his
stockings. The shoulders though square were compact, the chest full and
high, the limbs round, neat, and muscular,--the whole indicating a form in
which strength and activity were apportioned with the greatest accuracy.
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