“This were a worthy treaty, truly, for one whose habitation is not a mad-house!  Relinquish my right over the principal doer of the evil, and receive the unsupported pledge of a subordinate’s word!  Your happy fortune, Master Tiller, has troubled your reason.  What I offer, was offered because I would not drive an unfortunate and remarkable man, like him we have, to extremities, and—­there may be other motives, but do not mistake my lenity.  Should force become necessary to put your vessel into our hands, the law may view your offences with a still harsher eye.  Deeds which the lenity of our system now considers as venial, may easily turn to crime!”

“I ought not to take your distrust, as other than excusable,” returned the smuggler, evidently suppressing a feeling of haughty and wounded pride.  “The word of a free-trader should have little weight in the ears of a queen’s officer.  We have been trained in different schools, and the same objects are seen in different colors.  Your proposal has been heard, and, with some thanks for its fair intentions, it is refused without a hope of acceptation.  Our brigantine is, as you rightly think, a remarkable vessel!  Her equal, Sir, for beauty or speed, floats not the ocean.  By heaven!  I would sooner slight the smiles of the fairest woman that walks the earth, than entertain a thought which should betray the interest I feel in that jewel of naval skill!  You have seen her, at many times, Captain Ludlow—­in squalls and calms; with her wings abroad, and her pinions shut; by day and night; near and far; fair and foul;—­and I ask you, with a seaman’s frankness, is she not a toy to fill a seaman’s heart?”

“I deny not the vessel’s merits, nor her beauty—­’tis a pity she bears no better reputation.”

“I knew you could not withhold this praise!  But I grow childish when there is question of that brigantine!  Well Sir, each has been heard, and now comes the conclusion.  I part with the apple of my eye, ere a stick of that lovely fabric is willingly deserted.  Shall we make other ransom for the youth?—­What think you of a pledge in gold, to be forfeited should we forget our word.”

“You ask impossibilities.  In treating thus at all, I quit the path of proud authority, because, as has been said, there is that about the ‘Skimmer of the Seas’ that raises him above the coarse herd who in common traffic against the law.  The brigantine, or nothing!”

“My life, before that brigantine!  Sir, you forget our fortunes are protected by one who laughs at the efforts of your fleet; You think that we are inclosed and that, when light shall return, there will remain merely the easy task to place your iron-mounted cruiser on our beam, and drive us to seek mercy.  Here are honest mariners, who could tell you of the hopelessness of the expedient.  The Water-Witch has run the gauntlet of all your navies, and shot has never yet defaced her beauty.”

“And yet her limbs have been known to fall before a messenger from my ship!”