--and, with a
graceful bow, my new friend entered his carriage, and was driven away.

"'Now,' said the skipper, after our boat's crew had cleared their
craft from the crowd at the stairs, 'now, Stewart, what do you think
of the pirate's daughter, my boy? D'ye see, I never happened to sight
her, though her brother and I have been fast friends these five years.
Is she so handsome, Ben.'

"'Full as good-looking as the figure-head of the Cleopatra,' replied
I.

"'Egad! you don't say so!' exclaimed the skipper, who thought that the
aforesaid graven image on the cut-water of his old ship, far excelled
the Venus de Medici in beauty of feature and form. 'She must be
almighty beautiful; and then, my son, she is as rich as the Rajah of
Rangoon, who owns a diamond as big as our viol-block. Did you fall in
love pretty bad, Ben?'

"'Considerable,' I replied, grinning at the old gentleman's
simplicity.

"'By the laws, then, if you don't cut out that sweet little craft from
under that old pirate's guns, you're no seaman, that's a fact! Egad! I
should like to do it, and wouldn't ask only one kiss for salvage, and
you'll be for having the whole concern.'

"The next morning I packed my portmanteau and dressed myself with
unusual care. About ten the skipper and myself got aboard the gig, and
pushed off for Don Pedro's villa, which lay on the eastern shore of
the bay, two miles from the city, and nearly opposite the barracks and
hospital.

"We landed at a little pier at the foot of the garden; the house,
embowered in a grove of orange and magnolia trees, was close at hand.
Don Pedro met us on the verandah.

"'Welcome! welcome!' he cried; 'how do you like the appearance of my
bachelor's hall? But come, let's go in; my sister has arrived, and
knows that I expect Captain Hopkins and Mr. Stewart, of the Cabot,
and,' he added, with a significant smile, 'nothing more, though she
has been very curious to find who the gentlemen is with whom I entered
the church yesterday.'

"We entered the drawing-room, and there, sure enough, was my angel of
the cathedral-porch. Her eye fell upon me as I passed the doorway,
and, by the half start and blush, I saw that I was plainly recognized,
and with pleasure. We were formally presented by Don Pedro, and, after
the old skipper had been flattered into an ecstasy of mingled
admiration and self-complacency, Donna Clara turned again to me.

"'I do not know that I ought to have bid you welcome, Mr. Ste