ters of the bay. A force, against which she has
no power of resistance, watches the inlet; you see the cruiser in
readiness to meet her off the Hook. My boats are so stationed as to
preclude the possibility of escape, without sufficient notice, by the
northern channel; and, in short, the outlets are all closed to your
passage. With the morning light, we shall know your position, and act
accordingly."

"No chart can show the dangers of rocks and shoals more clearly!--and to
avoid these dangers----?"

"Yield the brigantine, and depart. Though outlawed, we shall content
ourselves with the possession of the remarkable vessel in which you do
your mischief, and hope that, deprived of the means to err, you will
return to better courses."

"With the prayers of the church for our amendment! Now listen, Captain
Ludlow, to what I offer. You have the person of one much loved by all who
follow the lady of the sea-green mantle, in your power; and we have a
brigantine that does much injury to Queen Anne's supremacy in the waters
of this hemisphere;--yield you the captive, and we promise to quit this
coast, never to return."

"This were a worthy treaty, truly, for one whose habitation is not a
mad-house! Relinquish my right over the principal doer of the evil, and
receive the unsupported pledge of a subordinate's word! Your happy
fortune, Master Tiller, has troubled your reason. What I offer, was
offered because I would not drive an unfortunate and remarkable man, like
him we have, to extremities, and--there may be other motives, but do not
mistake my lenity. Should force become necessary to put your vessel into
our hands, the law may view your offences with a still harsher eye. Deeds
which the lenity of our system now considers as venial, may easily turn to
crime!"

"I ought not to take your distrust, as other than excusable," returned
the smuggler, evidently suppressing a feeling of haughty and wounded
pride. "The word of a free-trader should have little weight in the ears of
a queen's officer. We have been trained in different schools, and the same
objects are seen in different colors. Your proposal has been heard, and,
with some thanks for its fair intentions, it is refused without a hope of
acceptation. Our brigantine is, as you rightly think, a remarkable vessel!
Her equal, Sir, for beauty or speed, floats not the ocean. By heaven! I
would sooner slight the smiles of the fairest woman that walks the earth,
than entertain a