Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. 253 onger to be seen. Nearly an hour had now passed since the Athene sped from her anchorage off Leg- shorn; and Durazzo at length consigned the care of his vessel to his second lieutenant, while he de- scended to his cabin to snatch some hasty refresh- ment. He took the opportunity of passing by the spot where I was standing; and he hastily whis- pered, “In about five minutes go down below.” Suffering that interval to elapse, I descended to my state-room,—where the youthful page almost immediately made his appearance, with a request on Captain Durazzo’s part that I would join him in his cabin to take a glass of wine. Thither I at once repaired; and the corsair-chief desired me to be seated. : “T had not till this instant found leisure,” he said, “to hold any farther conversation with you: but you are doubtless anxious to learn the details of what took place at Leghorn. I sent Lanover on shore in my boat—and bade the mate accom- pany him in plain clothes, with a view that he might follow at a distance when they were in the town, and judge whether anything happened to Lanover himself. The mate beheld the arrest of Lanover suddenly effected by a posse of police, by whom he was borne off. Still the mate followed at a distance—and remained outside the police-court to which Lanover was conducted,—until thinking it was of no earthly avail for him to linger there, he began to retrace his way towards the boat. The foolish fellow however nearly suffered for the delay which he so incautiously adopted after Lanover’s arrest. For scarcely had he reached the boat, when a body of police-officers rushed down to the landing-place; and a conflict ensued between them and my men. The sbirri were beaten off: my men escaped unhurt, and put back with all possible speed to the Athene. Now you know everything. As for Lanover,” added the young Greek, with a look of supreme disgust, “I can scarcely be sorry for his arrest, whatever the particular charge be that is brought against him.” “ Rest assured, my dear Durazzo,” I answered, “that he righteously merits any tate that may be in store for him. But, Oh! how can I sufh- ciently = “Not another word of gratitude!” interrupted the young Greek. “We are friends once more— and that is the essential.” “Yes—but it is not all that I have to say!” I exclaimed: “for I must give you a proof of my friendship. Constantine Durazzo, you have ren- “dered me a@ service which I never can forget, and which I can never adequately repay. You have faith in my honour—and you will believe my word. Solemnly therefore do I stake that honour—as solemnly too do I pledge this word of mine—that never, never from my lips shall go forth a syllable that in any quarter may militate against your in- terest. No—I am incapable of ingratitude!—and heaven knows that you have my sincerest wishes for your happiness !” Constantine seized my hand, and pressed it fer- vidly : but he could not immediately give utterance to a syllable—his heart was too full of emotions to allow him to speak. But his eloquent eyes con- veyed the joyous gratitude which he in his turn experienced; and then he at length murmured, ** We are friends for evermore !” “We are,” I responded: “and « And the day may come,” he answered, “ when you may even forget that I have been a corsair- chief: or at least you will do your best to banish it from your memory. But now let us change the subject. We are chased, as you have perceived, by a sloop and a frigate: the latter we have already distanced—the former we may not run away from with the same facility. Nevertheless, there are nine chances in our favour to one against us. And if that one should happen to overrule all the rest—well, we must do as we did in respect to the Tyrol. But understand me well, my dear Wilmot :—the moment there is a fitting opportu. nity, you shall be Janded—and my sincerest wishes for your happiness and prosperity will follow you. I must now go upon deck to see that my brave ship does its duty; and if you purpose to walk there again this evening, you can come up in a few minutes. We must not seem to have too good an understanding with each other—for fear lest suspicion might be engendered that the frustration of Lanover’s schemes was not altogether the result of accident.” By the time I returned to the deck, the wind had got up considerably, and the waves were crested with white foam. Still the Athene held on under all her canvass: but the French sloop was still visible through the night-glass—for she too had crowded ali sail. The night was dark— clouds of ominous blackness were rolling high over head; and I felt convinced that we should be visited by a storm of terrific wind—perhaps a hurricane. Within another half hour it blew with such violence that Durazzo ordered sail to be shortened: yet still the Athene glided through the water at a tremendous rate. Another half hour— and the wind came on with such a gush that mes thought for a few instants the gallant schooner would be upset, or that her tall topmasts would be split in twain: but she rose gracefully after in- clining towards the sea—and the corsair-chief commanded more sail to be taken in. In another hour the French sloop was no longer visible: but it now blew the perfect hurricane which the aspect of the heavens had portended ; and the sea was lashed up into tremendous billows. The spray dashed over the deck—so that I was soon completely wet through ; and Durazzo advised me to go below. I felt somewhat apprehensive of danger; and methought there was more chance upon the deck of escaping from its consequences, than if I went and cooped myself up in my state- room. I therefore assured the young Greek that — I would much rather remain where I was. “Tt will be a boisterous night,” said Durazzo: “it is already blowing a hurricane—and in another hour we shall not be able to show a single stitch of canvass. The Athene has however weathered many a worse storm; and I entertain no fear.” “But there must be always danger,” I observed, * amidst the various casualties that may happen at sea.” “There is danger everywhere,” responded Du- razzo, “both on land and on water. But with a gallant vessel like this—and with plenty of sea- room—with a well-disciplined crew also ot “ And with a skilful captain,” I suggested, “ the chances of peril are considerably lessened P” As Durazzo had prophesied, another hour beheld us scudding along with bare poles; and we went Ehoo SS (E()