I stared aft at the poop deck, seeking to gain glimpse of the skipper, but was unable to determine his presence among the others.  There were a number of persons gathered along the low rail, attracted by the unusual spectacle, and curiously watching us being herded aboard, and dispatched below, but, to judge from their appearance, these were probably all passengers—­some of them adventurers seeking the new land on their first voyage, although among them I saw others, easily recognized as Virginians on their way home.  Among these I picked out a planter or two, prosperous and noisy, men who had just disposed of their tobacco crop, well satisfied with the returns; some artisans sailing on contract, and a naval officer in uniform.  Then my eyes encountered a strange group foregathered beside the lee rail.

There were four in the little party, but one of these was a negress, red-turbaned, and black as the ace of spades, a servant evidently, standing in silence behind the others.  Another was clearly enough a Colonial proprietor, a heavily built man of middle age, purple faced, and wearing the broad hat with uplifted brim characteristic of Virginians.  I passed these by with a glance, my attention concentrating upon the other two—­a middle-aged young man, and a young woman standing side by side.  The former was a dashing looking blade, of not more than forty, attired in blue, slashed coat, ornamented with gilt buttons, and bedecked at collar and cuffs with a profusion of lace.  A saffron colored waist-coat failed to conceal his richly beruffled shirt, and the hilt of a rapier was rather prominently displayed.  Such dandies were frequently enough seen, but it was this man’s face which made marked contrast with his gay attire.  He was dark, and hook-nosed, apparently of foreign birth, with black moustache tightly clipped, so as to reveal the thin firmness of his lips, and even at that distance I could perceive the lines of a scar across his chin.  Altogether there was an audacity to his face, a daring, convincing me he was no mere lady’s knight, but one to whom fighting was a trade.  He was pointing us out to his companion, apparently joking over our appearance, in an endeavor to amuse.  Seemingly she gave small heed to his words, for although her eyes followed where he pointed, they never once lighted with a smile, nor did I see her answer his sallies.  She was scarcely more than a girl, dressed very simply in some clinging dark stuff, with a loose gray cloak draping her shoulders, and a small, neat bonnet of straw perched upon a mass of coiled hair.  The face beneath was sweetly piquant, with dark eyes, and rounded cheeks flushed with health.  She stood, both hands clasping the rail, watching us intently.  I somehow felt as though her eyes were upon me, and within their depths, even at that distance, I seemed to read a message of sympathy and kindness.  The one lasting impression her face left on my memory was that of innocent girlhood, dignified by a womanly tenderness.