'First rate!' said Captain Pliny.

Can't be beat, if

you go the world over and try your hand at everything.'

'Tedious enough, I should think,' said Thornton.

'Why as to that, young gentleman,' said Captain Pliny, 'there's many a one I do suppose, too fresh to like salt water. But no man who does his duty has a right to call his life tedious-or I might say, a chance; for those very things are just what he was put into the world to do. If he will ballast his ship according to his own fancy, not for her build and cargo, no wonder if she don't sail well.'

'One might have a bad cargo though,' said Thornton. 'Not without you've got sense to match,' said the Captain.

'The best cargo's what'll fetch most where you're going. The end of the voyage, young gentleman, and the profits-keep your eye on them, then load your ship and make sail.'

'Now here were you only yesterday getting a bad cargo,' said Thornton.

'Bad? no,' said Captain Pliny with a smile-'just a thought too good; and I won't say that feminine bills of lading are always made out true. Put 'em in another hull's the best way-let them have their craft and keep your own, -keep at a safe distance and you may sail on together 'most'

'Sloop ahoy!'

The words ran through the Old Thirteen as if she had been a speaking trumpet herself. Before they had died away Captain Pliny stood on the deck with his own trumpet in hand.

"Old Thirteen-New York-Pliny Cruise, commander,' -the words almost knocked each other down with the rapidity of their egress.

'Put about 'came from the other vessel, which was one of the Government coasters. 'Enemy below.'

'What force?' returned the Captain.

Captain Pliny laid down his trumpet and turned to confront his passengers, who stood close behind him.

I told you so, Mr. Clyde,' he said. 'I shewed you a Squadron laid down in my chart, as plain as the old Point herself. Never launch a feminine craft on no sea but the Pacific.'

'What is to hinder our running for New Haven and outrunning the frigate ?' said Thornton.

'Might fall out that we shouldn't win the race,' said the Captain.

'But you run past these frigates continually?'

Just so,' said the Captain, I do, sartain :-hope to again, when there's only Pliny Cruise aboard it don't signify. I'd rather be shot through than have the Old Thirteen turn tail this fashion.'

Sloop ahoy!' came from another coaster that was bearing down upon them.

6

Ay, ay!' said Captain Pliny catching up his trumpet to reply.

'Frigate ahead-38 guns-run!' was shouted out as the vessel swept by.

'Now there's a few of the unpleasant'st words!' said the Captain, though I've heard it all afore. Not a gun-'cept for salutes, I'd like to give 'em a kiss once !-Must be done.-Put about there!' he shouted,-haul down her colours!-all sail for New York!' And as he walked off the Captain tried to console himself with,

'Can't run a feminine craft into danger-can't-it goes agin my conscience.'

And as one sail after another spread out in its place, until near all were set that she would carry, the Old Thirteen

changed her course and went scudding up the Sound. But as if to shew his good inclinations, the Captain seated himself with his face in the other direction and sailed backwards.

'Pliny Cruise,' he said to himself, 'never engage a cargo again without knowing what it is.'

The wind held on its way and the vessel on hers without interruption; but the passengers took their tea alone and Captain Pliny would not leave the deck. There Thornton found him when he went up at nine o'clock, but Rosalie and Hulda remained below.

Captain Pliny was on his feet now, standing motionless at the stern of the vessel; his eyes doing what eyes could to pierce the darkness on all sides, but especially in the wake of his own sloop.

'Dark night,' said Thornton as he came up.

'If we don't get more light on the subject afore another hour, be thankful,' said the Captain. You see them lights astern? they're after us, as sure as my name's what it is; and whichever of us gets in first 'll have the best of it.' 'After us?' said Thornton. 'The frigate?'

6

Something less than that,' said Captain Pliny,-' nothing more than a sloop, I take it. But she follows us. I've veered once or twice to try her, and when she turns you can see eight mouths on a side.'

'Lights?' said Thornton.

'Ay-at her ports,' said the Captain coolly. I can't tell yet which of us gains.'

'Hoa! ship ahoa!' came faintly from the pursuing vessel.

There you are!' said Captain Pliny. Mind your own business and leave Yankees to ask questions. Make sail!' he added, turning quick about. 'If we've got to shew the white feather it shall be a good one!' And as more and

more canvass was spread and filled there came another hail borne down on the night wind.

'She'll speak louder next time,' said Captain Pliny,'and we've got no more canvass. Go below Mr. Clyde, and take care of your glassware. What man can do has been done-what the Lord will let him do.'

But Thornton stood still.

Two or three port-hole lights appeared now, and presently a brilliant flash shot out into the darkness, and a ball whizzed through the mainsail of the little sloop which was spread out before the wind.

'Plain speaking,' said Captain Pliny, almost leaning over the stern of the vessel in his interest. There comes another; and a third;-right through her sails, both on 'em.'

But the fourth shot fell astern.

'We gain now,' said the Captain with a voice less clear than before. I doubt Mr. Clyde there's something stronger than wind helping us on.'

And as if impelled by some new power the Old Thirteen sped along, until even the lights of the pursuing vessel grew dim in the distance. Not until then did Thornton quit the deck.

Rosalie sat by Hulda's bed, so motionless that her brother at first paused lest she might be asleep. But she looked up, and as he came and sat down by her she laid her head on his shoulder, and neither spoke nor moved till the day broke. Captain Pliny's advice needed no further repetition.

CHAPTER XXVI.

O blessed nature, "Orus! O rus!"
Who cannot sigh for the country thus,
Absorbed in a worldly torpor-

Who does not yearn for its meadow-sweet breath,
Untainted by care, and crime, and death,
And to stand sometimes upon grass or heath-

That soul, spite of gold, is a pauper!- HOOD.

'It's an astonishing thing how much it takes to kill folks!' said Martha Jumps the morning after their safe arrival in Massachusetts. 'Beats all my arithmetic. Now here we are, just as 'live as can be,-nobody'd guess to look at us that we'd been chased and run over and shot through.'

The scene was the kitchen of the farm house where Rosalie was to spend the summer; and as Miss Jumps looked out of the open window over a pleasant expanse of green meadows, cows, chickens, and corn fields, agreeably diversified with a red barn and a fair little brook; the perils of the sea appeared in strong contrast. Peace was the atmosphere around everything in sight. The cattle cropped their grass in a quiet leisurely way, secure and satisfied; the shadows crept softly down the green slopes, aware of the sun's pursuit, but with no fear of being caught; and in the uncut fields the grass waved to and fro with the very motion of repose. Swift of wing and light of heart, the featherclad tribes bestirred themselves for breakfast; and filled up that hour of the day with a merry song and chatter, which did honour to their good sense and to their business habits. No such morning songster would ever build his nest ill, or