completely
conscious of all said and done around me. Previous to this, my mind had
established a kind of Provisional Government over my rebellious ideas,
and, like most such bodies, its edicts had little force, for they were
based on but a weak prestige.

Now then came a question of this strange-looking piece of card, with
the numbers on which, by some wonderful process, I seemed to myself
perfectly familiar,--nay, I felt that they were, from some hidden cause,
recorded facts in my memory. All I could remember of the night before
threw little light upon the matter, and I wondered on, striving to
pierce the dull mist of uncertainty that enveloped all my thoughts;
by this time, I had reached the bank of the river, and could perceive,
about half a mile off, down the stream, a tall-masted smack getting
ready for sea,--her blue-peter fluttered at the mast-head, and the
pleasant "yo-ho!" of the sailors kept time with the capstan-bars as
they heaved at the anchor. The wind was a nor'-wester, and beat with
impatient gusts the loose canvas that hung ready to be shaken out, while
the stream rushed rapidly along her sides.

"Would I were to sail in you, wherever your voyage tended!" was my
exclamation; and I sat down to watch the preparations, which the loud
commands of the skipper seemed to hasten and press forward. So occupied
was I with the stir and bustle on board the craft, where everything was
done with a lightning speed, that I did not remark a boat's crew who
sat leaning on their oars beside the wall of the stream; and it was only
when an accidental sound of their voices struck me that I saw them.

"That's a signal to come away, Ben!" said one of the men. "He 'll not
wait no longer!"

"And why should he lose a tide for any land-lugger of them all? It's not
every day, besides, we get a nor'-wester like this!"

"Well, what d'ye mean to do?" asked the former speaker.

"Give him ten minates more, Ben," cried another. "Let's have a chance of
a dollar apiece, anyhow!"

"There goes a shot!" said the man called Ben, as he pointed to the
smack, from whose bow-port the smoke was lazily issuing. "I'll not stay
here any longer; shove her away, lads!"

CHAPTER XIX. ON BOARD THE 'CHRISTOBAL'

Without further delay, the men prepared to obey the summons. The boat's
chain was cast off, and, as she swung out from the wall, I could see a
small standard at her stern, carrying a little white flag, which, as the
breeze wafted tow