ut fair to repay you the
money, although your kindness I cannot so easily return."

"I'll tell you exactly," said Levee. "If I take no prizes this cruise,
and you do make money, why then we will, on our return, have another
frolic somewhere, and you shall stand treat. That will make us all
square, if I am not fortunate; but if I am, I consider your pleasant
company to have more than repaid me for any little expense I may have
incurred."

"You are very kind to say that," I replied; "but I hope you will be
fortunate, and not have to depend upon me."

"I hope so too," he replied, laughing. "If we come back safe and
sound, we will take a trip to Bath--I am anxious to see the place."

I mention this conversation, Madam, that I may make you acquainted
with the character of Captain Levee, and prove to you how worthy a man
I had as a companion.

It required about ten days to complete my little schooner with every
thing that I considered requisite, and the politeness of the owner was
extremely gratifying. We were, however, but just complete, when the
owner sent for me in a great hurry, and having taken me into a back
room next to the counting-house, he locked the door, and said--

"Captain Elrington, I have been offered a large sum to do a service to
some unfortunate people; but it is an affair which, for our own sakes,
will demand the utmost secrecy: indeed, you will risk more than I
shall; but at the same time I trust you will not refuse to perform the
service, as I shall lose a considerable advantage. If you will
undertake it, I shall not be ungrateful."

I replied that I was bound to him by many acts of kindness, and that
he might confide in my gratitude.

"Well, then," he replied, lowering his voice, "the fact is this; four
of the Jacobite party, who are hotly pursued, and for whose heads a
large reward is offered, have contrived to escape to this port, and
are here concealed by their friends, who have applied to me to land
them at some port in France."

"I understand," I replied; "I will cheerfully execute the commission."

"I thank you, Captain Elrington; I expected no other answer from you.
I would not put them on board Captain Levee's vessel for many reasons;
but, at the same time, he knows that he is to sail to-morrow, and he
shall wait for you and keep company with you till you have landed
them; after which you may concert your own measures with him, and
decide whether you cruise together or separate."