a tall, lank man, and one of the most
melancholy-looking beings I ever beheld. I looked round for the
females.

"If they belong to our thread-paper friend here, the chances are that
their attractions are but small," I thought to myself. Still I was very
curious to see them.

"Well, Mr Officer," said the master, without giving me time to speak,
"if it's any satisfaction to you, you'll understand that you've ruined a
hard-working man with a large family by this capture, and frightened
nearly to death two females aboard here."

He spoke in a slow, drawling tone, but there was something in it which
made me fully believe him.

"It cannot be helped. I do but my duty," I answered.

"Your duty, sir! Is it the duty of a man, a gentleman, to attack the
weak and the oppressed?" said a deep voice close to my ear.

The melancholy skipper had not spoken, the tones were too feminine for
him. I turned, and saw standing near me a lady who had evidently just
ascended from the cabin. I started. She was something so unlike what I
had expected to see. Her figure, though slight, was tall and
commanding, and a black dress set off the brilliant whiteness of her
complexion. Her dark eyes flashed with fire as she spoke. Her features
also, I saw, were very handsome. I have not often been abashed, such a
feeling does not usually run in the blood of the Hurrys, but I was on
this occasion completely taken aback. I felt that I should have liked
to have jumped into my boat and pulled back to my own craft without
saying a word. However, I mustered courage to speak.

"Pardon me, madam," I stuttered out, "I obey the commands of my lawful
sovereign, though those commands are, I own, often painful."

"The excuse all mercenaries make," said the lady, with bitter scorn in
her voice. "And now, sir, that we are your captives, may I ask what you
purpose doing with us?"

This question was rather a poser. I could not let the prize go free,
and yet I had no wish to detain any women as prisoners.

"I cannot answer the question at once, madam," I replied; "but I will do
my best to land you as soon as possible at the nearest point I am able
to reach, to wherever you may wish to go."

I thought this would satisfy the lady, but not a bit of it.

"Oh, then, we are to be compelled to leave the vessel in which we have
taken a passage and to be delayed on an errand of importance because
George of Brunswick chooses to try and force unjust laws d