to or had come from all
parts of the world, the African traders perhaps predominating; but there
were not a few either going to or coming from the West Indies, with
which Liverpool had a considerable commerce. There were South Sea
whalers, high black vessels, with boats hoisted up on either side, and
fast-sailing craft running up the Mediterranean, besides innumerable
coasters. Indeed, Liverpool had become a successful rival of Bristol,
hitherto the chief commercial port of the kingdom.

The ladies were well pleased with our little berths off the main cabin,
for Captain Magor had done his best to make them comfortable. The cabin
was well fitted, with a mahogany table, a sofa at the upper end, and two
easy-chairs. A swinging lamp was suspended above us, while the bulkhead
in the fore part was ornamented with muskets, pistols, and cutlasses
ranged in symmetrical order. The brig carried seven guns, three on each
side, and one long gun, which could be trained fore or aft to serve as a
bow or stern chaser, while all told she had thirty hands, besides Harry
and me; so that we were well able to cope with any ordinary enemy we
were likely to meet with, either pirate or Frenchman, Spaniard or
Hollander. The captain had prepared tea on board, or rather supper.
Mr Swab did his best to keep up the spirits of the party--which poor
Lucy certainly failed in doing--by telling stories or cracking jokes,
though he soon gave up the attempt when he saw none of us responded.
Indeed, I must confess that both his jokes and stories were stale, and
it might be added "flat and unprofitable." They did not flow naturally
from him. At length he discovered that the time was passing on; the
shades of evening were already stealing over the broad surface of the
magnificent stream. The boat belonging to the firm had hauled up
alongside, and Harry and I helped the ladies into her, Mr Swab
following, and giving each of us a hearty shake of the hand. As the
boat rowed away they waved an adieu with their handkerchiefs, which
before they were out of sight all three applied to their eyes, and even
then I could distinguish Mr Swab frequently blowing his nose with his
scarlet bandana.

Neither Harry nor I slept very soundly; we had too much to think about
to allow "nature's soft nurse," as the poet calls it, to visit our
eyelids.

The boatswain's call roused up all hands. Quickly dressing, we were on
deck. The dawn was just breaking in the easte