“Ah! madame, I see that kindness meets with a return as well from a dark as a fair skin,” said the officer, in a low tone, as he gently withdrew his hand from Banou’s grasp.
“But,” he continued, turning toward the skipper, as the clear 19 sound of the cruiser’s bell struck his ear, “I must not forget what I came for.”
“You say, captain, that you saw a schooner at daylight, eh? This way, if you please”––as he raised his cap to Madame Piron and walked over to the other side of the deck. “What was she like?”
“She was reported to me by the mate,” replied Jacob Blunt.
“Please send for him.”
“Oh! Mr.––a’––”
“Binks, sir,” said that individual, touching his hat and making an awkward scrape at a bow.
“Well, Mr. Binks, did you clearly make out the vessel you saw this morning under the land?”
“Can’t say exactly, sir, as I did; but Ben Brown there was on the fore-yard, and he got a good squint at her.”
“Ah! can I see the man?”