Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-06-26

face, and it seemed to me that she never looked
more beautiful. Nor to me alone, suspect,
did she seem beautiful for Captain Culver had
approached us quietly, and there was that In
his look and voice, as he thanked her for her
good opinion OF himself and his crew, which
set me to spcculating, as all girls OF seventeen
will do, upon the future. Till that moment l
had been anxious about the success Of this cruise
in the Vixen but Inow felt satisfied that Har-
ret was in good hands, and that if love was an
efficient helper, she was safe from BARN. 4
| William and fingered on the quay long afteK
our friends left us, watching tho clever littles
Vixen as she crossed the bar, between lnchcarne
and the coast, and vanished in the darkness.
Time passed on and began to think 1t un.
usual for the Vixen to be SO long absent from
Rathkelspie; but it was not till u month had
elapsed that any of us confessed ourselves really
anxious on our friends behalf. Then even my
father seemed to think matters serious, and
spoke either of sending across to Portpatrick to
inquire whether there were no tidings of the
cutter, or Of writing to some person in authori
ty to ascertain whether the Vixen had received
fresh orders. Before any fresh step was taken,
came an order from the revenue station at Kill
krummoch desiring that certain number of
carts should be in readiness ut the quay side Of
Rathkelspic. to remove some heavy packages
out of the Vixen cutter, then hourly expected.
The revenue-oficer who brought the order set
the whole town in commotion by strange ru-
mors which he brought with him. Kilkrum-
moch fishing boats, which had boen blown by
the late storm across the narrow channel be-
tween Scotland and Ireland, had been told at
Donaghadeo that the Vixen was storm stayed
at Strangford Lough, being unable to cross the
bar during the late southeast gale but that
she had mode some wonderful captures during
the long cruise. Some whispered that she had
not only taken the smugglcr of which she had
been 50 long in chase, but that she had also cap
tured French privatecr, laden with Spanish
gold which, together with great number OF
prisoners Of rank-among whom were three
lades-she was brngngin triumph to Rathkel-
spie Others denied the prvateer but said that,
in her chase of the smuggler, she had come up
on u haunt Of buccaneers, commanded by q fo-
male captain, who had bravely defended their
little island, bat had finally surrendered after
both their Amazon leader and Captain Culver
had been wounded. 1t was for their treasures,
said the people, that so many carts were want.
cd and it was to carry the lady captain to the
hospital that Mr. M'Donald had been ordered
to bring down his sedan-chair to the quay-sidc
Towards evening of the day after Captain
! Culver's orders reached Rathkelspie a chang
: in the wind caused the knowing ones to prophe
, sy the prompt arrival of the cutter. The ar
ray of carts drew up at the quay side, the sedal
: was set at ease behind the look out house; tn
crowd, attracted by the strange reports that ha'
: been current, were gathered in masses on tn
pier; and, as the glowing light of sunset fel
: upon their eager and expcctant faces, the Who'll
4 scene was picturesque enough, to me most ex
citing one, as soon as word was given that tn
Q Vixen was sped rounding the lnchcarne point
. The little ship swan into the bay stately as
0 swan. In an instant she was surrounded by
crowd of boats; every boatman offering assis
anco, and asking innnmerable questions -
When the first party came ashore out Of tn
cutter, the high-wrought expectations of tn
Il spectators was shown in the dcathlike stilne'
} that succeeded the late hum of voices. Thci
|, whole souls seemed concentrated in their eye
They never thought now of making inquiries
le they were only too content to look. Judg
y, then, of their disappointment, when the fir
c. person who landed was Mrs. Delaney. But,
Is the same time, attention was attracted to tt
D. movements of Captain Culver and Mr. Delanc
II, who were carrying, rather than assisting. ta
It veiled figure from the boat Its true, it
g true. See, the Captains arm is in sling ar
7; the lady must be sore wounded to let herself
lp carried in that fashion. What for have the
l rolled her DIP in wells and mantles wou
or rarely like to see a she-captain, but cam,
of get glimpse of her face. Nay if that's n
&c Miss Harriet coming out Of the boat, with tv
IL bonny little dogs in her arms. She-captei
I are fine folk, to have such fine attendance l.
n just see how tender-like they are carrying he
in Softly, Captain, softly The sedan is read
nd and M'Donald has had two or three ext
drains so he'll be steady as a rock
st, The laugh that followed did not prevent t
y, rowd from making way with instructive co,
ty, tesy for the passage of the lady; and VIII
lr- Harriet approached, many rough cap "
on raised to greet her, and many q rough vol
lid murmered, " If Miss Harriet was the she-ca
ng tain, there are many that would fain be O. /
| folowin'."
ch What story had Harriet to tell She us
to say that that voyage to Ireland was the o
ne, period Of her life to which she looked back wi
ad unnixed delight. The moonlight walks
ev- the deck Of the Vixen the feelings then aro
lp- ed the words then spoken, that were to be
sh- membcred for life even the very anticipate
ng Of danger, gave u vague pleasure worth th'
d sand pyramids of solid gain They found the
} selves too soon in Strangford Lough, But e'
hat when she parted from the Vixen, and saw
ary square tower of Caerinnys frowning above
she from its seagirt isle, she was still full OF HI
ons for herself and others
the 1t had been agreed that the Delancys sho
land from the cut tier before reaching Caerinr
'om and should make their appearance there,
our backed by IN armed force, but simply as Il
gh- Stewards nearest relatives arrived to pa
ho, visit to her in her Irish home Their receipt
init was to point out to them their future cour
L. but they arranged with Captain Culver tina
uch they did not return within twenty four ho