, by human footstep or voice. That breathing
stillness, which unbending and stern discipline can alone impart, pervaded
the ship. A landsman, seated in the cabin, might have fancied himself,
although surrounded by a crew of lawless and violent men, in the solitude
of a deserted church, so suppressed, and deadened, were even those sounds
that were absolutely necessary. There were heard at times, it is true, the
high and harsh notes of some reveller who appeared to break forth in the
strains of a sea song, which, as they issued from the depths of the
vessel, and were not very musical in themselves, broke on the silence like
the first discordant strains of a new practitioner on a bugle. But even
these interruptions gradually grew less frequent, and finally became
inaudible. At length the Rover heard a hand fumbling about the handle of
the cabin door, and then his military friend once more made his
appearance.

There was that in the step, the countenance, and the whole air of the
General, which proclaimed that his recent service, if successful, had not
been achieved entirely without personal hazard. The Rover, who had started
from his seat the moment he saw who had entered, instantly demanded his
report.

"The white is so drunk, that he cannot lie down without holding on to the
mast; but the negro is either a cheat, or his head is made of flint."

"I hope you have not too easily abandoned the design."

"I would as soon batter a mountain! my retreat was not made a minute too
soon."

The Rover fastened his eyes on the General, for a moment, in order to
assure himself of the precise condition of his subaltern, ere he
replied,--

"It is well. We will now retire for the night."

The other carefully dressed his tall person, and brought his face in the
direction of the little hatchway so often named. Then, by a sort of
desperate effort, he essayed to march to the spot, with his customary
upright mien and military step. As one or two erratic movements, and
crossings of the legs, were not commented on by his Captain, the worthy
martinet descended the stairs, as he believed, with sufficient dignity;
the moral man not being in the precise state which is the best adapted to
discover any little blunders that might be made by his physical coadjutor.
The Rover looked at his watch; and after allowing sufficient time for the
deliberate retreat of the General, he stepped lightly on the stairs, and
descended also.

The lower apartme