Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 265: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

252 to look to the safety of my ship, my crew, and |!and the ladies. He yielded—and he is gone. myself, If your agent Mr. Dorchester be ar- rested—who knows what information he may give ?” “No, no—he would not betray the ship!” ejacu- lated Lanover. “Indeed he knows not what you really are: I merely told him in my letter that if he could possibly contrive a boating excursion to- day, he was to propose a visit to the beautiful schooner carrying the Greek colours.” “Well,” answered Durazzo, “we must be guided by circumstances. We will of course wait till to-morrow—or even several days—provided that nothing occurs to render a precipitate de- parture expedient.” | “Ah! you will wait several days?” ejaculated the humpback joyously. ‘This is indeed most honourable on your part—and there is yet hope!” He appeared in the excitement of his feelings to forget that I was standing nigh and could therefore overhear all that he said. But of course believing that no secret counter-plot had been set in motion to baffle his schemes and frustrate his views, he doubtless considered it a matter of no consequence whether I overhead anything or not. He must have looked upon me as a prisoner on board the Athene, and therefore powerless for any interference in his projects. The yacht and the cutter continued their way to Leghorn; and soon entering the harbour, were lost to the view. I descended to my state-room to revel in the luxury of feelings which I now ex- perienced; and Oh! how fervidly in my heart did I thank the generous-minded Constantine Durazzo for the change which he had suffered to come over himself, and for the assistance he had rendered me. A couple of hours passed; and the dusk now began to close in. I did not during that in- terval reascend to the deck: I was fearful of be- traying aught by my countenance that would lead Lanover to suspect that the pirate-chief had not too faithfully adaered to his compact. At the ex- piration of that period the young page entered my state-room, bearing the massive silver salver, on which were dishes of oranges, grapes, and confec- tionary. | “ Captain Durazzo,” said the youth, “begs your acceptance of these trifles. The Count of Livorno has just sent off his yacht with huge hampers containing fruits, wines, and other things, as a present for the Captain, in acknowledgment of the courtesy his lordship and the Countess experienced on board the schooner to-day.” The page retired: I understood full well what his mission to me meant, Most kindly and faith- fully had the Count of Livorno attended to the request contained in my letter; and the gift sent to Durazzo was intended as a signal for me that Sir Matthew and his family were safe, and that the villain, Dorchester was arrested. Another hour passed; and then Durazzo him- self entered my state-room. I at once grasped him warmly by the hand,—expressing my fervid grati- tude for the services he had rendered me. *T have persuaded Lanover,” said the corsair- chief, “to go on shore with the idea that by some secret means he may obtain an interview with his agent Dorchester. I have represented to him that with the exercise of the most ordinary caution he can prevent his temporary presence in Leghorn from being suspected by Sir Matthew Heseltine JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. He will learn that all his schemes are baffled and that Dorchester is arrested: for such was the intima. tion which the Count’s present to me was doubt- less intended to convey.” “And think you that Lanover will return on board the Athene ?” I inquired. “YT know not,” responded Durazzo. “Such a return will be useless so far as his projects are con- cerned: but on the other hand, he may think it advisable to avail himself of the schooner to get away with all expedition from the Tuscan ter- ritory. Another hour will doubtless show : for by that time the boat will come back. I will make you acquainted with the result.” Durazzo then left me in a somewhat hurried manner, as if to prevent me from renewing the expressions of my gratitude for the services he had rendered. The page shortly appeared to spread the cloth for my dinner; and I partook of the repast with a better appetite than I had as yet experienced on board the Athene. In about an hour Durazzo returned; and he entered hastily, saying, “ Lanover is arrested! Hither he or Dor- chester—or perhaps both—must have made reve- lations: for it is evidently known that this is the Athene and that it is a pirate-ship. We are off at once:—there is not even leisure to put you ashore !” With these words Constantine issued from my presence; and then I became aware of the hasty tread of many feet upon the deck overhead, and of all the evidences of that bustle and activity which denote that a ship is about to get under weigh. The anchor was heaving up; and words of command soon issued rapidly from the lips of Durazzo. Then all of a sudden the roar of a gun, booming through the air, rolled upon my €ar. I hastened on deck: the sails were already filling to the breeze; and I felt the motion of the vessel as she was moving onward. Another gun was fired: it was from the English frigate ; and a shot splashed in the water scarcely half-a-dozen yards from the starboard side of the ship. Durazzo’s voice went on issuing order after order with a calm firmness; and each successive mandate was with alacrity obeyed by his well disciplined crew. Shot after shot was fired at the Athene from the frigate, which was likewise spreading its sails; and I perceived also that the French sloop was getting under weigh. JI remained at a distance from Du- razzo: and I saw that he was too much occupied in giving his orders to have any immediate leisure for discourse with me. He evidently did not think it worth while, at least for the present, to waste time or ammunition in returning the frigate’s shot; and as the Athene was now running rapidly away from the dangerous neighbourhood of the French and English vessels-of-war, not one of those shot inflicted the slightest injury on the schooner. The dusk had closed in some time—the darkness was deepening—the wind was strength- ening—and the aspect of the heavens portended a terapestuous night. Every stitch of canvass which the Athene could carry, was displayed to the wind; and almost in- credible was the speed with which the beautiful fabric skimmed over the water. The French sloop —evidently a very fast sailer—was visible through the night-glass: but the English frigate was no | (E(0) et 9 <S 0)(0 6)