m was
on the ground. Turning with the most admirable coolness, he gave the
bottom of the ladder a trip with one of his feet, and laid the only means
of descent prostrate on the earth. Then, looking up at the wondering
Wilder, he nodded his head familiarly, repeated his adieu, and passed with
a swift step from beneath the arches.

"This is extraordinary conduct," muttered Wilder who was by the process
left a prisoner in the ruin. After ascertaining that a fall from the trap
might endanger his legs, the young sailor ran to one of the windows of the
place, in order to reproach his treacherous comrade, or indeed to assure
himself that he was serious in thus deserting him. The barrister was
already out of hailing distance, and, before Wilder had time to decide on
what course to take, his active footsteps had led him into the skirts of
the town, among the buildings of which his person became immediately lost
to the eye.

During all the time occupied by the foregoing scenes and dialogue, Fid and
the negro had been diligently discussing the contents of the bag, under
the fence where they were last seen. As the appetite of the former became
appeased, his didactic disposition returned, and, at the precise moment
when Wilder was left alone in the tower, he was intently engaged in
admonishing the black on the delicate subject, of behaviour in mixed
society.

"And so you see, Guinea," he concluded, "in or der to keep a weather-helm
in company, you are never to throw all aback, and go stern foremost out of
a dispute, as you have this day seen fit to do According to my l'arning,
that Master Nightingale is better in a bar-room than in a squall; and if
you had just luffed-up on his quarter, when you saw me laying myself
athwart his hawse in the argument, you see we should have given him a
regular jam in the discourse, and then the fellow would have been shamed
in the eyes of all the by-standers. Who hails? what cook is sticking his
neighbour's pig now?"

"Lor'! Misser Fid," cried the black, "here masser Harry, wid a head out of
port-hole, up dereaway in a light-house, singing-out like a marine in a
boat wid a plug out!"

"Ay, ay, let him alone for hailing a top-gallant yard, or a
flying-jib-boom! The lad has a voice like a French horn, when he has a
mind to tune it! And what the devil is he manning the guns of that
weather-beaten wreck for? At all events, if he has to fight his craft
alone, there is no one to blame but himself, si