“No, indeed,” said the Captain, good humoredly; “it would be but a poor compliment to the stately city of B——­, to take this rude coast, with its sandy beaches, its rocky eminences, and fishermen’s huts, for its handsome dimensions.  Nevertheless, poor as this little fishing settlement looks, it is a very welcome sight just now, I assure you, as our provisions are getting scarce, and as to the water, my cook tells me he should have hardly enough to fill a tea-kettle for to-morrow’s breakfast.”

“And so you intend putting in here for supplies?”

“Precisely so, though I see by your look you deem it not a very probable place to obtain them.  But this is not the first time I have been obliged to put in here, and have always found a hearty welcome, and obtained necessary supplies; not, perhaps, the very best of provisions, but such as the place can afford; and I am well acquainted with one of the fishermen, an emigrant from my native place, whose hospitality, and that of his family, is unbounded; and whenever I happen to tarry here, they do all in their power to make us comfortable.”

“And how long do you expect to remain?” inquired Mr. Clifford.

“For a few days only, but long enough I trust to recover these two sailors of mine, who have been complaining so much of late; and my wife’s health also is not as good as usual, accustomed though she has been to long sea-voyages.  You, too, Sir, I think,” said the Captain, “will be all the better for a taste of the land breeze, even though it should not be laden with the balmy breath of flowers.”

“You are quite right, Captain,” was the reply; “and anxious as I am to see my home again, after five long years’ absence, I shall be none the worse for a ramble on =terra firma= once more.”

In a few hours subsequent to the conversation recorded above, a fine boat might be seen rapidly cutting the sparkling waves, and the little party, consisting of the Captain and his wife, with their only passenger, Mr. Clifford, soon landed on the sandy beach, and gladly directed their steps towards Mr. Williamson’s cottage.

Captain Pierce pointed out the residence to Mr. Clifford, for though it was at some distance from their landing place, it could be distinctly seen, owing to the elevation of the ground on which it was built.

“You had better go on, Sir,” said the Captain, “and, if you have no objection, inform them you are a passenger of the barge ‘=Pearl=.’  That will be sufficient, I know, to insure you a hearty welcome, and you can add, if you choose, that we are behind; for my wife and myself are but indifferent walkers, being more accustomed to patrolling the deck of a vessel than climbing these steep hills, so that if you try to conform your pace to ours, you will be quite weary when you reach the dwelling.”

Mr. Clifford laughingly replied, and hastening his steps, soon came in sight of the cottage.

It was near the end of April, and the day a balmy one, even for smiling June.