iding down the English
channel, bound for the East Indies. The gentle breeze of a lovely
autumnal morning scarcely sufficed to fill the sails, and the vessel
made but little progress till outside the Lizard, when a freer wind
struck it, and it swept oceanward with a gallant pace, dashing aside
the waters, and careering gracefully as a swan upon the wave. Its
armament was of little weight, and it seemed evident that its voyage,
as far as any design of the owners was concerned, was to be a peaceful
one. England at that time had become the undisputed mistress of the
ocean; and even the few splendid victories obtained by the gallant
little American navy, had failed as yet to inspire in the bosoms of
her sailors, any feeling like that of fear or of caution; and Captain
Horton, of the merchantman Betsy Allen, smoked his pipe, and drank his
glass as unconcernedly as if there were no such thing as an American
privateer upon the ocean.

The passengers in the vessel, which was a small brig of not more than
a hundred and forty tons, were an honest merchant of London, Thomas
Williams by name, and his daughter, a lovely girl of seventeen. Mr.
Williams had failed in business, but through the influence of friends
had obtained an appointment from the East India Company, and was now
on his way to take his station. He was a blunt and somewhat unpolished
man, but kind in heart as he was frank in speech.

Julia Williams was a fair specimen of English beauty; she was tall,
yet so well developed, that she did not appear slight or angular, and
withal so gracefully rounded was every limb, that any less degree of
fullness would have detracted from her beauty. She was full of ardor
and enterprise, not easily appalled by danger, and properly confident
in her own resources, yet there was no unfeminine expression of
boldness in her countenance, for nothing could be softer, purer, or
more delicate, than the outlines of her charming features. There were
times when, roused by intense emotion, she seemed queen-like in her
haughty step and majestic beauty, yet in her calmer mind, her retiring
and modest demeanor partook more of a womanly dependence than of the
severity of command.

Julia was seated on the deck beside her father, in the grateful shade
of the main-mast, gazing upon the green shores which they had just
passed, now fast fading in the distance, while the chalky cliffs which
circle the whole coast of England, began to stand out in bold rel