d unless you
could catch the schooner away from her consort, you will not be able to
do much with the Firefly."

"I will do my best, sir," replied I. "I have a very fine set of men on
board, and I think, very good officers."

"Well, at all events, if you can't fight, you have a good pair of heels
to run with," replied Captain C---; "but dinner's announced."

I left early, that I might have some conversation with Mr Fraser. On
my return we sat down to some sangoree and cigars; and then he told me
that Mr Vanderwelt had left Curacao about nine months before, and that
my last letter directed to him had been forwarded to Holland. He had
often heard the history of my saving their lives on board of the pirate
vessel from Mr Vanderwelt who made it a constant theme of his
discourse; and, added Mr Fraser, "You do not know what a regard he has
for you."

"And little Minnie, sir?" inquired I: "it is now nearly five years since
I saw her."

"Little Minnie is no longer little Minnie, Mr Keene, I can assure you.
She was _fifteen_ when she left the island, and had grown a tall and
very beautiful girl. All the young men here were mad about her and
would have followed her not only to Holland, but to the end of the
world, I believe, if they thought that they had the least chance--but
from my intimacy with the family, I tell you candidly, that I think if
you were to meet again, you would not have a bad one; for she talks
incessantly of you when alone with her father: but I must not divulge
family secrets."

"I fear there is little chance of my meeting again with her," replied I:
"I have to carve my way up in my profession, and this war does not
appear likely to be over soon. That I should like to see her and her
father again, I grant; for I have made but few friendships during my
life, and theirs was one of the most agreeable. Where is Mr Vanderwelt
settled?"

"He is not in Holland--he is at Hamburg. Well there is no saying;
accident may bring you together again, as it did on board of the pirate;
and I hope it may."

Shortly afterwards we went to bed. I must say, his description of
Minnie, which was even much more in detail than I have narrated to the
reader, did prevent my going to sleep for a long while. Women, as the
reader may have seen, never once troubled my thoughts! I had fed upon
one sole and absorbing idea, that of being acknowledged by Captain
Delmar; this was, and had been, the source and spring of every a