My blood was up at this cool declaration.
“Then I wish you a good morning, sir,” replied I; and turning on my heel, I was strutting out with all the dignity of an offended midshipman, when I was met face to face by the little girl, his daughter. She stared at me very much, and I passed her in sovereign contempt; she followed me timidly, and looked into my face, then panting for breath, seized me by the arm. I turned to her at being stopped in this manner, and was about to shake her off with anything but politeness, when she screamed out, and in a moment had sprung up, and was hanging with both arms round my neck.
“Fader, fader,” she cried out as I struggled to disengage myself.
The old gentleman came out at the summons.
“Stop him! fader; don’t let him go away,” cried she in Dutch; “it is he! it is he!”
“Who, my child?” asked the old gentleman.
“The pirate-boy,” replied the little girl, bursting into a paroxysm of tears, on my shoulders.
“Mein Gott! it cannot be; he was black, my child; yet,” continued the old gentleman, looking at me, “he is like him. Tell me, sir, are you our preserver?”
“Yes,” replied I, “I was; but that is of little consequence now. Will you oblige me by removing this young lady?” continued I, for I was highly offended.
“Sir, I ask your pardon,” replied the old gentleman; “but I am not to blame. How could I recognise you in a white person when you were so dark-coloured at our meeting on board of that vessel? I am not to blame; indeed I am not, my dear young friend. I would have given ten thousand rix dollars to have met you, that I might prove my gratitude for your noble defence of us, and our preservation at such a risk. Come, sir, you must forgive the mistake of an old man, who was certainly not inclined to be civil to an officer who belonged to the squadron, who had within these few days so humiliated us by their astonishing bravery and success. Let my little girl, whose life you saved, persuade you, if I cannot.”