econd mate's night-capped head rose through
the slide, he looked so very spectral that I couldn't forbear hailing
him with--'Art thou a ghost or goblin damned?' which he persists in
rendering his own fashion. I'm sure I didn't intend to liken him to a
barn-yard fowl of any kind; I should rather have gone into the stable
in search of comparisons."

To the great chagrin and astonishment of Mr. Brewster, all hands of us
burst into a roar of laughter; but Langley, by the skipper's advice,
finally begged pardon, and peace and amity were restored. Brewster
withdrew his objections, and the skipper granted us a week's liberty.

The next day, after dinner, the yawl was brought to the side and
manned, and my chum and I prepared for our departure.

"Remember," quoth my cousin Pedro, as I bade him good-bye, in the
mate's state-room, where, from extreme caution, he generally lay
_perdu_, "remember to see Clara; tell her who you are, and bring us
word from her."

"Yes," added the mate, "tell her of Pedro's escape, but do not
undeceive her as to the belief of my death--that's too late now. God
bless the dear girl!" and the voice of the usually stout-hearted
seaman trembled as he spoke.

"Good-bye, Frank; good-bye, Bill," said Mr. Brewster, as we came on
deck again, and shaking hands with us; "kiss all the girls for me, and
bring off some good cigars the first time you come on board. These
d----d bumboatmen don't have the best quality."

"Keep out of all manner of scrapes." added the captain, by way of
climax. "However, I shall see you or hear of you every day, either at
the house or counting-room."

"Ay, ay; yes, sir; oh! certainly; of course, sir; good-bye, shipmates;
good-bye, sir;" shouted we, right and left, in reply to the divers
charges, injunctions and parting salutations, as the boat pushed off.

"Now let fall, my men, give way," continued Bill. "By lightning!
Frank, _pre_haps we wont have a spree!"

The ship's cousin replied only by an expressive pantomime.

Two Bowery clerks, driving a fast trotting-horse up the Third Avenue,
may, in a measure, realize the feeling of intense pleasure which we
experienced at this time.

Away we went in crack style, till, as we neared the mole, Langley gave
the order "unrow;" six oar-blades instantly glittered in the sun, the
bow-man seized his boat-hook, and our stout crew forced our way
through the jam of ship and shore-boats to the landing stairs, saluted
by a volley of oaths