"Hold! see you not they are only coming up to wind to lie to! Look! they are already swinging round their clumsy sails."
The vessel came up slowly and heavily to the wind, and, by means of her mainsail, lay as still as if at anchor. In a few moments afterward, as they eagerly watched, they saw a boat let down, and several men descend over the side into it. He uttered a joyful exclamation when he saw this movement; and, without reflecting upon the character of the vessel, or the object it could have in view in landing on so retired a coast at such a time, he only thought of it as a means of bearing him from the hateful shore, and perhaps opening for him some path to action and mental excitement.
"See that flash of light on her deck! There is another gleam!" exclaimed Elpsy.
"'Tis the glancing of the moonbeams on steel!" he replied, in a gratified tone.
"There is a sound a man should know!" she said again.
"'Tis the ringing of arms!" he replied, in the same animated manner.
"What think you they are, young man?" asked she, with a peculiar smile, laying her hand impressively on his arm.
"I know not, nor care, so I may cast my fortune with them!"
"Thou art, of a truth, thy father's son!"
"And, by the cross, he shall not be ashamed to own me!" he replied, in a desperate and determined tone.