mbo for any price, just
the same as you would a leg of mutton at the butcher's; put him in
a band-box, lug him across, and you'll make a fortune in the North
country. But I'd rather buy a young wife, for the young niggers are
more roguish than a lot o' snakes, and al'a's eat their heads off afore
they're big enough to toddle. They sell gals here for niggers whiter
than you are, Manuel; they sell 'em at auction, and then they sell corn
to feed 'em on. Carolina's a great region of supersensual sensibility;
they give you a wife of any color or beauty, and don't charge you much
for her, providing you're the right stripe. What a funny thing it would
be to show the Glasgow folks a bright specimen of a bought wife from the
renowned State of South Carolina, with genuine aristocratic blood in her
veins; yes, a pure descendant of the Huguenots!" said the mate, who
was leaning over the rail where Manuel and Tommy were seated, smoking a
segar and viewing the beautiful scenery around the harbor.

"Ah!" said Manuel, "when I get a wife and live on shore, I don't want to
buy one-it might be a dangerous bargain. Might buy the body, but not the
soul-that's God's."

CHAPTER VIII. A NEW DISH OF SECESSION.

ABOUT a quarter past eight o'clock in the evening, Master George, as he
called himself, the little pedantic man, came skipping down the wharf.
As soon as he approached the brig, he cried out at the top of his voice,
"Captain! Captain!!"

The Captain stepped to the gangway, and the little fellow, who had stood
crossing and working his fingers, reached out his hand to assist him
ashore. This done, he took the Captain's arm, and commencing a discourse
upon the wonderful things and people of South Carolina they wended their
way to the Charleston Theatre. The company then performing was a small
affair, and the building itself perfectly filthy, and filled with an
obnoxious stench. The play was a little farce, which the Captain had
seen to much perfection in his own country, and which required some
effort of mind to sit out its present mutilation. Yet, so highly pleased
was Master George, that he kept up a succession of applauses at every
grimace made by the comedian. Glad when the first piece was over, the
Captain made a motion to adjourn to the first good bar-room and have a
punch. It was agreed, upon the condition that the little man should "do
the honor," and that they should return and see the next piece out. The
Captain, of