in their time, may
have heard and seen, when such sights as this are beheld in our own!"
"I am as little disposed as another, to put faith in incredible things,"
gravely returned Oloff Van Staats; "and yet, if required to give my
testimony, I should be reluctant to say, that yonder vessel is not
floating in the heavens!"
"You might not give it to that effect, in safety;" said Ludlow. "It is no
other than a half-rigged brigantine, on a taut bowline, though she bears
no great show of canvas. Mr. Van Beverout, Her Majesty's cruiser is about
to put to sea."
Myndert heard this declaration in visible dissatisfaction. He spoke of the
virtue of patience, and of the comforts of the solid ground; but when he
found the intention of the Queen's servant was not to be shaken, he
reluctantly professed an intention of repeating the personal experiment
of the preceding day. Accordingly, within half an hour, the whole party
were on the banks of the Shrewsbury, and about to embark in the barge of
the Coquette.
"Adieu, Monsieur Francois;" said the Alderman nodding his head to the
ancient valet, who stood with a disconsolate eye on the shore. "Have a
care of the movables in la Cour des Fees; we may have further use for
them."
"Mais, Monsieur Beevre, mon devoir, et, ma foi, suppose la mer was plus
agreable, mon desir shall be to suivre Mam'selle Alide. Jamais personne de
la famille Barberie love de sea; mais, Monsieur, comment faire? I shall
die sur la mer de douleur; and I shall die d'ennui, to rester ici, bien
sur!"
"Come then, faithful Francois," said Ludlow. "You shall follow your young
mistress; and perhaps, on further trial, you may be disposed to think the
lives of us seamen more tolerable than you had believed."
After an eloquent expression of countenance, in which the secretly-amused
though grave-looking boat's-crew thought the old man was about to give a
specimen of his powers of anticipation, the affectionate domestic entered
the barge. Ludlow felt for his distress, and encouraged him by a look of
approbation. The language of kindness does not always need a tongue; and
the conscience of the valet smote him with the idea that he might have
expressed himself too strongly, concerning a profession to which the other
had devoted life and hopes.
"La mer, Monsieur le Capitaine," he said, with an acknowledging reverence,
"est un vaste theatre de la gloire. Voila Messieurs de Tourville et Dougay
Trouin; ce sont des homme
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