d with the mystery
of arranging the breakfast-table. Lastly, and to the surprise of the
whole company, Isabella, as lovely as the morning, and dressed in the
proper habiliments of her sex, ascended the companion-ladder. She was
greeted with paternal affection by the veteran commander, and with
sparkling eyes and a silent pressure of the hand by Morton. She received
and replied to their congratulations and compliments with crimsoned
cheeks and downcast eyes. The supercargo and doctor, who had, with most
commendable delicacy, kept out of the way the night before, were now
introduced, and after a few minutes of general conversation, the
steward informed Captain Williams that breakfast was ready.

The whole party, with the exception of Mr. Walker, who was now in his
turn "officer of the deck," accordingly descended to the cabin, where
they found the table covered with coffee and tea, _minus_ milk; cold
salt beef, cut into slices, of a thickness that would horrify a whole
community of fashionable ladies and gentlemen, allowing that so
exceedingly vulgar an article of "provent" as salt beef did not
previously throw them into hysterics as soon as presented to their eyes,
but which slices seemed to have been cut with the prospective intention
of filling up that vacuum that Nature, as far as I am acquainted with
her, seems to abhor more cordially than any other vacuum whatever; that
void space, I mean, that is apt to be found in a healthy human stomach
after a twelve-hour's fast. There was also a broiled chicken for the
express use and behoof of their fair messmate; fried pork and potatoes;
a large dish of fried fish, the produce of a fishing excursion the
afternoon preceding; another of boiled eggs; a third composed of
pilot-bread, soaked in hot water, toasted, and buttered; biscuit,
butter, and cheese.

Breakfast proceeded much as sea breakfasts generally do--that is to say,
the company ate heartily: even Isabella, who had sufficient excuse for
low spirits and want of appetite, yielded to the demands of hunger the
most unromantic, and, in vulgar language, "spoilt the looks" of the
broiled fowl before her. The meal was drawing to a close, when the
steward came below with information, that Mr. Walker had seen, from the
main topmast head, with his glass, a square-rigged vessel right astern,
and coming up with a fresh breeze. Captain Williams and Morton exchanged
looks of intelligence, but said nothing; their fair passenger,
for