"I haven't got anything more to say about it. I won't go with you; and that's the whole of it," said the stewardess, retreating to the cabin.
Griffin Leeds swore like a pirate, and declared he would be the death of his wife if she didn't come with him. He called upon the officer to arrest Chloe, and compel her to go on shore with him.
"Give me a proper warrant, and I will arrest her," replied the officer, laughing.
"I am her husband; and I tell you to take her out of that steamer," cried Griffin, foaming with wrath.
"I don't know that you are her husband; and if I did, I would not meddle with her," replied the officer, who seemed to enjoy the situation. "Our business is finished on board of this craft:" and he returned to the boat.
"This seems to be rather a hard case," interposed Cornwood. "I don't think we have any right to separate man and wife."
"The woman is a free citizen of Florida," added the officer; "and she can go where she pleases without any restraint."
"So far as the legal question is concerned, I suppose the woman cannot be put under any restraint," said Cornwood; "but the idea of carrying off the woman against the protest of her husband, is not, morally, the right thing to do. I think you had better discharge the woman, and then you will be free from the possibility of blame."
"I don't propose to meddle with the matter in any way," I replied promptly. "I don't know but you have a wife. If she should come here and protest against my carrying you off up the river, I don't think I should pay any attention to her."
"That's another question," replied Cornwood, smartly.