af god de command.
Und now dot your goundrymens do annoys der Deutsche Settlements in our
Easd Indies, ve do mean to beat dem every dimes ve cadgh dem in dese
zees. Und I do send mein ledder to you, mein tear Mees Dorotee, by der
greasy old vale-ship _Mary Ann_, yoost to led you know dot I haf
not vorgotten you mid your bride eye. Und ven I haf gaptured all der
Anglische ships in der East Indies I vill sail mein _Swift_ to Sydney
and claim you vor mein vrau, und do you nod be vrightened. I vill dake
care dot you und your beople shall not be hurt, because I do loaf you
ferry mooch. Der master of der _Mary Ann_ vill dell you I vas ferry goot
to him for your sake. I did but take his gargo, and did give him und his
grew liberdy to go to Sydney und dake this letter to you, mein vrau,
in der dime to gom, as I did dell him.--I remain your loafing Richard
Portveldt."

Foster jumped to his feet "The rascally Dutch swab, to dare to----"

"To dare to write to me," said Dolly laughingly.

"To dare to write to you! To suppose for one moment that you--oh, d----
the fellow! If I come across him, I'll----"

"But all the same, he's very brave," said Dolly demurely; "he is
fighting for his country, you know."

"The boasting fool!" ejaculated Foster contemptuously.

"But he _is_ captain of the _Swift_, and the _Swift_ _did_ beat some of
the English ships. I have heard my father say that."

"Oh, yes. Three privateers did manage to cut off some of our little
despatch vessels in the Channel; but this fat Dutchman, Portveldt, had
no hand in it."

"But this 'fat Duchman, Portveldt, _did_ capture the _Mary Ann_, and her
master _did_ give me this letter, and--and I was _so_ angry."

"The master of the _Mary Ann_ must have been a fool."

"Why so--for merely executing a commission? But wait, there is a
postscript that will interest you particularly. Now listen while I read
it," and Dolly, again mimicking Portveldt's English, read--

"Dell dot oncivil yong mans Voster who vas dell me to go to ter tuyvel,
dot I vill sendt der _Bolicy_ und her master mit der grew to der tuyvel
if he gomes mein vay mit his zeep."

"Now, Captain Foster, what do you think of that, pray?"

"Very pretty talk; what do _you_ think of it?"

"Well, I'm only a poor little woman; but if I were a man I would----"

"Exactly so, Dolly. Well, I am a man, and the _Policy_ has brought a
letter of marque with her from England this time, and so I may meet----"

"Oh,