ond the bend of yonder
head-land."

"This is a hardiness to be condemned! A failure of wind, a change of tide,
or any of the mishaps common to the sea, may throw you on the mercy of the
law, and will greatly embarrass all who feel an interest in your safety."

"So far as this apprehension is connected with my welfare, I thank you
much, my lord; but, trust me, many hazards have left me but little to
learn in this particular. We shall run the Hell-Gate, and gain the open
sea by the Connecticut Sound."

"Truly, Master Skimmer, one has need of nerves to be your confidant! Faith
in a compact constitutes the beauty of social order; without it, there is
no security for interests, nor any repose for character. But faith may be
implied, as well as expressed; and when men in certain situations place
their dependence on others who should have motives for being wary, the
first are bound to respect, even to the details of a most scrupulous
construction, the conditions of the covenant. Sir, I wash my hands of this
transaction, if it be understood that testimony is to be accumulated
against us, by thus putting your Water-Witch in danger of trial before the
Admiralty."

"I am sorry that this is your decision," returned the Skimmer. "What is
done, cannot be recalled, though I still hope it may be remedied. My
brigantine now lies within a league of this, and 'twould be treachery to
deny it. Since it is your opinion, my lord, that our contract is not
valid, there is little use in its seal--the broad pieces may still be
serviceable, in shielding that youth from harm."

"You are as literal in constructions, Master Skimmer, as a school-boy's
version of his Virgil. There is an idiom in diplomacy, as well as in
language, and one who treats so sensibly should not be ignorant of its
phrases. Bless me, Sir; an hypothesis is not a conclusion, any more than a
promise is a performance. That which is advanced by way of supposition, is
but the ornament of reasoning, while your gold has the more solid
character of demonstration. Our bargain is made."

The unsophisticated mariner regarded the noble casuist a moment, in doubt
whether to acquiesce in this conclusion, or not; but ere he had decided on
his course, the windows of the room were shaken violently, and then came
the heavy roar of a piece of ordnance.

"The morning gun!" exclaimed Cornbury, who started at the explosion, with
the sensitiveness of one unworthily employed.--"No! 'tis an hour