xplained them to me. These were his words:--

"To-day a person presented me a letter from a mercantile friend at
Baltimore. I easily discerned the bearer to be a sea-captain. He was a
man of sensible and pleasing aspect, and was recommended to my
friendship and counsel in the letter which he brought. The letter
stated, that a man, by name Amos Watson, by profession a mariner, and a
resident at Baltimore, had disappeared in the summer of last year, in a
mysterious and incomprehensible manner. He was known to have arrived in
this city from Jamaica, and to have intended an immediate journey to his
family, who lived at Baltimore; but he never arrived there, and no trace
of his existence has since been discovered. The bearer had come to
investigate, if possible, the secret of his fate, and I was earnestly
entreated to afford him all the assistance and advice in my power, in
the prosecution of his search. I expressed my willingness to serve the
stranger, whose name was Williams; and, after offering him entertainment
at my house, which was thankfully accepted, he proceeded to unfold to
me the particulars of this affair. His story was this.

"'On the 20th of last June, I arrived,' said he, 'from the West Indies,
in company with Captain Watson. I commanded the ship in which he came as
a passenger, his own ship being taken and confiscated by the English. We
had long lived in habits of strict friendship, and I loved him for his
own sake, as well as because he had married my sister. We landed in the
morning, and went to dine with Mr. Keysler, since dead, but who then
lived in Water Street. He was extremely anxious to visit his family,
and, having a few commissions to perform in the city, which would not
demand more than a couple of hours, he determined to set out next
morning in the stage. Meanwhile, I had engagements which required me to
repair with the utmost expedition to New York. I was scarcely less
anxious than my brother to reach Baltimore, where my friends also
reside; but there was an absolute necessity of going eastward. I
expected, however, to return hither in three days, and then to follow
Watson home. Shortly after dinner we parted; he to execute his
commissions, and I to embark in the mail-stage.

"'In the time prefixed I returned. I arrived early in the morning, and
prepared to depart again at noon. Meanwhile, I called at Keysler's. This
is an old acquaintance of Watson's and mine; and, in the course of talk,
he ex