u.

"Your servant, Mr.--"

"Richard Carvel, of Carvel Hall, in his Majesty's province of Maryland."

He seemed sufficiently impressed.

"Your very humble servant, Mr. Carvel. 'Tis in faith a privilege to be
able to serve a gentleman."

He bowed me toward his cabin, and then in sharp, quick tones he gave
an order to his mate to get under way, and I saw the men turning to the
braces with wonder in their eyes. My own astonishment was as great. And
so, with my clothes sucking to my body and a trail of water behind me
like that of a wet walrus, I accompanied the captain aft. His quarters
were indeed a contrast to those of Griggs, being so neat that I paused
at the door for fear of profaning them; but was so courteously bid to
enter that I came on again. He summoned a boy from the round house.

"William," said he, "a bottle of my French brandy. And my compliments
to Mr. MacMuir, and ask him for a suit of clothes. You are a larger man
than I, Mr. Carvel," he said to me, "or I would fit you out according to
your station."

I was too overwhelmed to speak. He poured out a liberal three fingers
of brandy, and pledged me as handsomely as I had been an admiral
come thither in mine own barge, instead of a ragged lad picked off a
piratical slaver, with nothing save my bare word and address. 'Twas then
I had space to note him more particularly. His skin was the rich colour
of a well-seasoned ship's bell, and he was of the middle height, owned
a slight, graceful figure, tapering down at the waist like a top, which
had set off a silk coat to perfection and soured the beaus with envy.
His movements, however, had all the decision of a man of action and of
force. But his eye it was took possession of me--an unfathomable, dark
eye, which bore more toward melancholy than sternness, and yet had
something of both. He wore a clean, ruffled shirt, an exceeding neat
coat and breeches of blue broadcloth, with plate burnished buttons, and
white cotton stockings. Truly, this was a person to make one look twice,
and think oftener. Then, as I went to pledge him, I, too, was caught for
his name.

"Paul," said he; "John Paul, of the brigantine John, of Kirkcudbright,
in the West India trade."

"Captain Paul--" I began. But my gratitude stuck fast in my throat and
flowed out of my eyes. For the thought of the horrors from which he
had saved me for the first time swept over me; his own kind treatment
overcame me, and I blubbered like a child. Wi