"
Ludlow looked at the cloud above the mouth of the Raritan, and his lip
curled in a haughty smile.
"Let the wind hold here, at east," he said, "and we shall act our
pleasure, with both lockers and cabins."
"Hist! the worthy Master Tiller may overhear this threat--and, after all,
I do not know whether prudence does not tell us, to let the brigantine
depart."
"Mr. Alderman Van Beverout," rejoined the Captain, whose cheek had
reddened to a glow, "my duty must not be gauged by your affection for your
niece. Though content that Alida Barberie should quit the country, like an
article of vulgar commerce, the commander of this vessel must get a
passport of Her Majesty's cruiser, ere she again enter the high sea."
"Wilt say as much to the sea-green lady?" asked the mariner of the shawl,
suddenly appearing at his elbow.
The question was so unexpected and so strange, that it caused an
involuntary start; but, recovering his recollection on the instant, the
young sailor haughtily replied--
"Or to any other monster thou canst conjure!"
"We will take you at the word. There is no more certain method of knowing
the past or the future, the quarter of the heavens from which the winds
are to come, or the season of the hurricanes, than by putting a question
to our mistress. She who knows so much of hidden matters, may tell us what
you wish to know. We will have her called, by the usual summons.
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