lla!" exclaimed
one of the boatmen, as their employer lifted a female into the boat, "is
it a woman, Captain? this ought to be double pay, at least."--"Hold your
tongue, man," replied the Captain, "and pull away for the sloop: I'll
steer, for I know where she lies." The men again tugged hard at the
oars, being as anxious as their employer to finish their job. Though the
tide was now against them, another half hour of labour brought the boat
alongside a small but handsome vessel, which was riding at anchor in the
stream. "Hold fast, men," said the Captain, springing up the side of the
sloop and gaining her deck; "stand by to help the lady, and then come on
board and take a glass of grog, and be paid."--"Ay, ay, sir," was the
ready response. It was now Shipp's turn to act. Stepping quickly to the
stern of the boat he exclaimed loudly, "Let go, men, and pull ashore
this instant. Young woman, you are deceived: this man is married: he has
a wife at Whitehaven, and your brother is not on board his sloop."--"And
who are you, Sir," exclaimed the master of the sloop, "that dare to
interfere in my affairs?" "I am one of the police-officers of
Liverpool," replied Shipp, "and I take this lady under my
protection."--"If she chooses to come into my vessel," said the master,
in a voice hoarse with passion, "I presume your interference is cursed
impertinent and uncalled for. You wish to come on board, Mary, don't
you?"--"Not if this be true," sobbed the girl; "if you are not deceiving
me, call brother Tom; you said he would be here."--"I tell you," said
Shipp, "your brother has gone to Birmingham, and you were on the point
of being ruined. Let go, men, or it will be worse for you!" Hearing
this, the boat-hook was instantly loosed, and the tide swept the boat
from the sloop's side in a moment. "And are we to lose our money?" said
one of the boatmen, as he reluctantly put out his oar; "we were to have
had thirty shillings for this job."--"I will pay you," said Shipp.
"Huzza!" exclaimed the boatmen, "pull away, my hearties!" As they rowed
to the pier, Shipp related to the girl all that he had witnessed and
overheard on the preceding day. "God bless you, Sir!" said she; "from
what misery you have saved me!" On the following day the girl returned
to her aunt, and, shortly afterwards, her brother called upon Shipp, and
thanked him fervently for the great service he had rendered.

In the month of May, 1833, the office of governor of the workho