Year: 1863

Z
cast off the cable and 20 ahead, |, in
common with the rest of the passengers
and the unoccupied portion of the crew,
looked with much interest at the new
conner. The latter was about FORTY
years of age, long and lean of figure,
with hardy, sun-browned face. There
WAS no miStaking the resolute air and
daring Of the man; his mouth was as
firm as iron, though little dry humor
seemed to lurk about his lips; and |
hardly liked the expression of his half
shut eyes, which had a lazy cunning in
their dark glance. Still, though dres-
sed in a black suit of shore going
clothes, and swallow tailed coat of an
tiquated cut, there was something about
Mr.. Zack Foster that bespoke the
thoroughbred seaman. He took no
share in the proceedings, for his duty
did not begin till We were clear of Mas
sau roadstead, but yet he seemed i'm
patient for the start, gnawing viciously
at his quid, and drumming on the taft
rail with finger that seemed as hard
and brown as bronze.


THE BoNNYBELL SLIPS sEAwARD.


1t was an anxious time when the Bon
nybell, under full head of steam, went
darting out Of the bay; her lookouts
straining their eyes to pierce the mist,
and give warng to the helmsmen of YES
sells ahead while Pritchard walked to
and fro, too fdgetty and eager to en-
dure conversation. listening every in
slant for some sound that was to indi-
cate that the federal cruiser had taken
the alarm. But on we went without
check or hindrance and We all drew
our breath more freely as the lights of
the town one by one began to vanish,
as if the sea had swallowed them, and
the dark headlands faded away into
obscurity. The American gunboat was
neither seen nor felt, a circumstance
which did not the less regret because
perceived, not only by the resolute
demeanor of several of the crew, who
stood grouped about couple of uncov-
cred arm-chests, that our pigmy foe
would not have found an entirely unre-
sisting prize.


One slight circumstance, hardly, as |
thought, worth mentioning, did occur
before we had run half mile to sea-
ward. There came long, faint hail,
from so great a distance as to be hardly
distinguishable, even by sailol' prac-
ticed ear, but which was announced to
be addressed to us.


"SOme boat with message P rhaps
for passenger. The lubbers deserve
ropes ending for being so late. Can |
lie-to safely, do you think % said the
captain to the pilot, irresolutely, and
giving the word ''slacken speed" What
the pilot answered l know not. l only
caught the concluding phrase


yankee tricks; so cap, you'd best
look sharp about YOU"


So Pri.chard thought. He gave the
word to 60 on at full speed, and we beard
no more about the matter.


THE RUN.


The run was speedy and pleasant,
over dimpling summer sea, with no
boisterous behaviour on Neptune's part
to make even the lady passengers un-
easy. We saw several vessels, but not
of a hostile character and the voyage
was as agreeable and safe hitherto as
any yatching excursion in holiday wa
tiers. We were all disposed to be
pleased, and the pilot, although sat-
urnine and morose parsonage, viewed
through this rose-colored haze of salts
faction and hope, became popular man
on board. Captain Pritchard pro-
nounced him worth his weight in gold;
for if there were no gales or rough seas
to thwart our purpose, fogs were rather
frequent, and here the pilots intimate
acquaintance with the rocks, SHOALS and
islets-many of which were not noted
down in the chart-more than once
saved the BOnnybell from an ugly thump
upon some hidden obstacle. For an
American. Zack Foster was sinoula -lv