d met
with the rubbers. O, I know I shall be a sailor boy! there is something
noble about the very name."

"Missus be berry sorry to hear you talk so," said Vingo.

"I know my mother would be very sorry to have me go to sea, for I
remember how sad she looked for many days after father went away, though
I was but a little boy. And I remember my father took me in his arms,
and told me I must be a good boy, and take care of mother until he came
back. But now you would be here, Vingo, to see that my mother knew
no want."

"Yes, de good Lord be praised for sending good massa Grobener to take me
away from old slabe massa. I gets so filled wid liberty sometimes, dat I
mistakes myself for white man."

"Well, you are as good as a white man, any day; but tell me, Vingo, if
you have ever been much on the water?"

"Not a great deal; I used to take old massa wid his children out for a
sail sometimes, and den I hab a slight recollection ob being brought
from a great way off; but dat must hab been before I come to be berry
great. De pleasantest sail I eber take was when I leabe old Berginny in
de good Tantalizer; and I swings my hat at old slabe massa on de bank,
and asks him if he don't wish he as free as dis individual. Dat was but
a few years ago; den you wear little dress like Sea-flower, and now you
talk 'bout going to sea! Well, dat am de way wid you sea-fish here."

As the three sat on the beach, enjoying the morning breeze, Harry
observed a gentleman not far off, who appeared to be taking sketches of
the scenery around, and occasionally would give a glance towards where
our little party were sitting, somewhat to the disquietude of Nep, who
came and stood sentinel, as much as to say, "I will protect you;" but
finding the stranger disposed to do them no harm, he composed himself
for a nap. The whittling process being now finished, Harry produced what
he termed a "two-master," the which, Vingo declared it would be no sin
to worship, as it was not in the likeness of anything.

"She is not a very polished looking craft, to be sure, but I know she
is a sailer, for all that. At any rate, she shall be of some service;"
and he seized old Nep by the ear, and making fast his dogship to the
little ark, he carefully seated the Sea-flower at the helm, and with
Vingo's rainbow bandana flying from the mast-head, they were soon under
full headway. Either Nep being proud of his charge, or the little one
mistaking the thoughtful face, li