The Saucy Kate was not long in gaining the commodore’s yacht, a rakish looking schooner of some two hundred tons, whose lofty spars and middle staysail were seen overtopping the sails of her lesser companions, like a giant among dwarfs.  And although it was past midnight when Frank Story entered her cabin, he found it filled with members of the club, who, at the invitation of the commodore, had left their several yachts, and were making night jubilant over a table spread with choice wines, of which there was no stint.  There were also massive punch bowls, of chased silver, standing here and there along the table, and filled with delicious punch, which those who preferred drank from goblets of silver and gold.  Commodore Skim-merhorn, who sat at the head of the table, was a man of rotund figure, had a bright, ruddy face, and was frank and easy in his bearing.  When he of the tall figure entered they were discussing a question of Greek criticism, some of the members of the club being men of much taste and learning.  But this they suspended in order to hear his report of the strange sloop.  And this he commenced to relate, describing with so much quaint humor the wonderful major he had found on board, that they were all surprised and astonished.  In truth, not a few proposed going immediately to pay their respects to him, and learn to what manner of mankind he belonged.  But if they were surprised with the description, they marveled when told that this major was no less a person than he whom the New York politicians intended to make such an ado over.  However, as the New York politicians were most known for their folly, and making a hero now and then was with them a means of getting bread, it was not so surprising that they chose for a candidate one who would pass readily for a fool.

The speaker added, that with all the vanity of the man, (and in conceits he could not be surpassed even by the erudite Dr. Easley, who contemplated himself the most learned scholar and critic,) he sometimes spoke such sense as to make the listener mistake him for a wise man.  He next afforded them much diversion by relating what passed when he informed the major how the squadron had come in search of him, and were delighted at being first to do him honor.  Every one present entered immediately into the joke they resolved to carry out on the following day, which was arranged with great deliberation, lest any part of it should fail of being properly executed.

And now that Aurora had taken down her shutters, and was filling the eastern sky with pale, misty light, that threw an halo over the deep, dark foliage of the mountain heights, reflecting their shadows along the still, polished waters, so lovely was the morning, so like a picture of repose each object, and the whole so invested with a mysterious stillness, that one might have mistaken it for a fairy scene.  The yacht squadron was ranging alongside of the “Two Marys,” forming a port and starboard line, with