MY LIBERATION--SET OFF TO
LIVERPOOL, AND FIND MY OWNER AND CAPTAIN LEVEE--THEIR SURPRISE--MISS
TREVANNION.

When I called upon our owner, which I did as soon as I had dropped my
anchor and furled sails, he embraced me, and then led me into the back
room next to his counting-house.

"My dear Elrington," said he, "well as you managed to get off the
Jacobite gentlemen, there is a strong suspicion on the part of the
government that they were on board of your vessel, and that I was a
party to their escape. Whether they will take any measures now that you
have returned I know not; they may have gained some intelligence, or
they may worm out something, by their emissaries, from those who compose
your crew, and if so we must expect their vengeance. Now tell me where
you landed them, and all the events of your cruise, for I have heard but
little from those who brought in the prizes taken by the Arrow. Captain
Levee is too busy with his own vessel and the prize to come on shore for
these two hours, and I wish to talk with you alone upon this affair."

After I had narrated all that had passed, and the manner in which the
French privateer had been captured, the owner said--

"If the government spies, and there are plenty of them about, find out
from your crew that you landed passengers at Bordeaux, depend upon it
you will be arrested and examined, without you get out of the way till
the affair has blown over. Now the men will narrate in the taverns the
curious history of this French privateer, and in so doing cannot fail to
state that you were on shore in France. Now, Elrington, you have run
the risk to oblige me, and I must keep you out of difficulty; and, if
you feel inclined to hide yourself for a time, I will of course pay all
your expenses."

"No," I replied; "if they find out what has taken place, and wish to get
hold of me in consequence, I think it will be better to brave it out.
If I hide away, it will make them more anxious to have me, and will
confirm their suspicions that I am what they are pleased to call a
traitor; a reward will be offered for my apprehension, and at any time
that I do appear the reward will cause me to be taken up. If, on the
contrary, I brave it out, and, if I am asked, say at once that I did
land passengers, at all events they will not make it high treason; so,
with your leave, I will stay. I hardly need say that I shall take the
whole responsibility on myself, and declare that I took