"Lad, lad," he said, as he gripped my hand, "it's glad I am to see you returning to a God-fearing home. When you remember William MacWilliams, blot out the remembrance of ill deeds connected with my name, and think of me as a repentant man who yet intends to leave a good name behind him!"
We sailed for Baltimore in the brig Lafayette, Captain Lord. As we entered the Patapsco River Mustapha pointed out a schooner lying off Fell's Point. "Blessed be Allah—it's The Morning Star!" he cried.
"Pray then that her crew are not going ashore to spend our fortune!" I said.
Our first thought was to go directly aboard the schooner, but we then considered that we should have to furnish proof to her skipper that the sacks belonged to us, and that in such dealings it would be better to have the rector's support; therefore, we decided to seek him first.
As we passed a shop near the docks, I observed this sign above its door:
ALEXANDER FORSYTH
Exporter of
Fish, Flour, Tobacco, Corn and Furs
Importer of
Teas, Coffee and Spices
I entered and pounded on a desk.
"I want to buy a shipload of cannon balls to fire at the Dey of Algiers! I want to charter a frigate that will blow Joseph, Bashaw of Tripoli, to perdition! Fish, flour, tobacco—who's dealing in such tame stuff—it's blood and thunder I'm after purchasing; it's muskets and cutlasses I want. Show me your stock, man!"
A man with the build of a mastpole came out of the counting-room and stared at me. I swaggered towards him, but, suddenly, overcome by amusement at his puzzled look and joy at beholding him again, I sprang forward and threw my arms about him.
"David!" he cried.