D ACQUAINTANCE.

I could not help thinking of the Islander as we lay at anchor off the
pier in St. Augustine. As I looked at the angry billows outside, I
understood what kind of a time Captain Blastblow was having. But if he
handled his vessel well, and kept out of the breakers, I had no doubt
he would come out of the trial all right. The wind had hauled still
more to the southward, and even to the east of south. I was confident
that the Islander, having the wind nearly dead ahead, would not make
much headway against such a fierce wind.

About two o'clock in the afternoon, when we had finished our dinners,
both in the after and the forward cabin, I saw a boat put off from the
shore. The person in the stern sheets had a familiar look, though I did
not recognize him till he came on deck.

"I hope you are quite well, Captain Garningham," said he, advancing
towards me with extended hand.

It was Cornwood, who had been with us up the St. Johns in the double
capacity of guide and pilot, to say nothing of a third capacity as
conspirator. While I could not prove it, I was satisfied that he was
employed by Captain Boomsby to get me out of the way in some mild
manner. He had caused a drunken mulatto to be employed as a waiter in
the fore-cabin, who was another of the conspirators. But both of them
had been foiled; though, if my father had not arrived at the scene of
action when he did, I might not have been privileged to tell my story.
The waiter had been sentenced to a term as a convict, though Cornwood
had been his counsel.

I thought it was rather impudent of Cornwood to come on board of the
Sylvania after what had happened; but brass and impudence were the
principal elements of his stock-in-trade. He seemed to have as much
assurance as though his relations had been entirely pleasant with me.
He was a man of decided ability, though not as a lawyer. He knew more
about Florida than any other man I had met; and I had never known him,
in the month of my intimacy with him, to be ignorant of any subject,
from the navigation of an interior lake or river to the scientific name
of a plant or animal. In spite of the harm he had intended to do me,
through his agent, I had a great respect for his ability.

"You found it rough outside, Captain Garningham," said Cornwood, when
he had disposed of the commonplace introductories.

"Too rough for the ladies; and I came in here to find a smoother sea,"
I replied.

"The storm won't la