gruffly.

"Perhaps you don't know who I am, sir. Your answer's not polite. You
must remember, sir, you're in South Carolina, the sunny city of the
South," said the little secessionist.

"I al'a's make my answer to suit myself. I study hard work and honesty,
but never was known to carry a grammar in my pocket. But, my taut
friend, I should know'd I was in South Carolina if you hadn't said a
word about it, for no other nation under the sky would a dragged a poor
cast-away sailor to prison because he had the misfortune to have a tawny
hide. It's a ten-to-one, my hearty, if you don't find the skipper in
jail, and all the rest of us, before we leave. I'm lookin' now to see
some body-grabber coming down with a pair of handcuffs," continued the
mate.

"What! do you mean to insult me again, Mr. Mate? Explain yourself! I'm
not accustomed to this ironical talk!"

"Well, it's something like your laws. They dragged our steward off
to jail this morning, without judge or jury, and with about as much
ceremony as a Smithfield policeman would a pickpocket."

"What! you don't say. Well, I was afraid of that. Our officers are
mighty quick, but I'd hoped differently. But, sir, give my compliments
to the Captain. Tell him I'll make the matter all right; my influence,
sir, and my father's--he is one of the first men in the city--tells
mightily here. I have promised my services to the Captain, and I'll see
him through. Just pledging my word to Grimshaw will be enough to satisfy
the judicial requisites of the law," said George, switching his little
cane on his trowsers.

"My good fellow," said the mate, "if you can get our steward out a
limbo, you'll be doing us all a good turn, and we'll remember you as
long as we pull a brace."

"You may reckon on me, Mister Mate; and if I a'n't down before six
o'clock, my father will certainly take the matter in hand; and he and
Mazyck belong to the secession party, and control things just as they
please at Columbia." So saying, George bid the old mate good morning,
and bent his course for the head of the wharf.

"There," said the old mate, "it's just what I thought all along; I knew
my presentiment would come true. I'll wager a crown they treat Manuel
like a dog in that old prison, and don't get him out until he is
mildewed; or perhaps they'll sell him for a slave a'cos he's got curly
black hair and a yellow skin. Now I'm a hardy sailor, but I've sailed
around the world about three times, and kn