“Why send a public officer on the duty?  I see one, there, in the livery of Queen Anne.  We are no lovers of Her Majesty’s servants, and would not willingly form disagreeable acquaintances.”

Ludlow nearly bit-through his lip, in endeavoring to repress his anger, at the cool confidence of one who had already treated him with so little ceremony; and then momentarily forgetting his object, in professional pride, and perhaps we might add in the habits of his rank, he interrupted the dialogue—­

“If you see the livery of the royal authority,” he said, haughtily, “you must be sensible it is worn by one who is commissioned to cause its rights to be respected.  I demand the name and character of yon brigantine?”

“As for character, she is, like any other beauty, something vituperated; nay, some carry their envy so far as to call it cracked!  But we are jolly mariners that sail her, and little heed crazy reports at the expense of our mistress.  As for a name, we answer any hail that is fairly spoken, and well meant.  Call us ‘Honesty,’ if you will, for want of the register.”

“There is much reason to suspect your vessel of illegal practices; and, in the name of the Queen, I demand access to her papers, and the liberty of a free search into her cargo and crew.  Else will there be necessity to bring her under the guns of the cruiser, which lies at no great distance, waiting only for orders.”

“It takes no scholar to read our documents, Captain Ludlow; for they are written by a light keel on the rolling waters, and he who follows in our wake may guess at their authority.  If you wish to overhaul our cargo, you must look sharply into the cuffs and aprons, the negligees and stomachers of the Governor’s lady, at the next ball at the fort; or pry into the sail that is set above the farthingales of the wife and daughters of your Admiralty Judge!  We are no cheesemongers, to break the shins of a boarding officer among boxes and butter-tubs.”

“Your brigantine has a name, sirrah; and, in Her Majesty’s authority, I demand to know it.”

“Heaven forbid that any here should dispute the Queen’s right!  You are a seaman, Captain Ludlow, and have an eye for comeliness in a craft, as well as in a woman.  Look at those harpings!  There is no fall of a shoulder can equal that curve, in grace or richness; this shear surpasses the justness and delicacy of any waist:  and there you see the transoms, swelling and rounded like the outlines of a Venus.  Ah! she is a bewitching creature; and no wonder that, floating as she does, on the seas, they should have called her——­”

“Water-Witch!” said Ludlow, finding that the other paused.

“You deserve to be one of the sisterhood yourself, Captain Ludlow, for this readiness in divination!”