518 A TALE OF A TAR. 



when Nancy entered, and, without noticing the boatswain, inquired 

 of her mistress if she was wanted. 



"What, my old friend, Nance! doesn't thee know me?" The 

 brunette eyed him with some curiosity at first, then she seemed par- 

 tially to recognize him. " I say, Nance, don't you recollect the poor 

 sailor whose trousers you washed, and who you victualled when he 

 was on short allowance?" 



" Ah, is that you, master Jack ! I'm really glad to see you for 

 true !" exclaimed Nancy, while a tear gathered in her eye. " How 

 you're altered! you look older, but much better; you dress very 

 pretty," examining him from head to foot, " I knew you would come 

 back ; I am very glad to see you once more." 



Rattlin grasped her hand, and placed in it the seven doubloons that 

 her mistress had returned " Here, my lass, I've bought your free- 

 dom, and paid for you ; here's a part of the price your mistress wants 

 me to give you." 



Nancy at first looked astounded, and when recovered a little, 

 shewed as though she thought he was jesting. Her late mistress put 

 an end to her incredulity by briefly informing her of the fact of 

 Rattlin 's assertion ; when, overcome by her feelings, she let fall the 

 money placed in her hands, burst into tears, and would have sunk on 

 the floor, but that Mrs. Worthy and her benefactor supported her. 



" Oh, my dear mistress, and my dear master sailor, this too much 

 kindness to poor girl, only for doing what she ought for every body ; 

 but God bless you bless you !" 



" Holla, boatswain ! is that you ? I've been looking for you this 

 half an hour; there's a signal for all hands to repair on board; But 

 I'm sorry to spoil a scene " said a voice in the street. Jack looked 

 out from the gallery, and saw his lieutenant below ; the same gen- 

 tleman who, when a midshipman, induced Rattlin to enter on board 

 the Bull Dog. 



" Ay, ay, Lieutenant Quadrant, I'll be on the wharf before the boat 

 can hoist her sail. Good bye, God bless you ! I shall never see you 

 any more, but I shan't forget you ; and when you say your prayers, 

 put up a word or two by way of petition for poor Jack Rattlin !" 



The boatswain then quitted the gallery, hastened to the wharf, and 

 got on board, where his late grateful act was told much to his ad- 

 vantage, and got him into general favour with both officers and men. 

 Mrs. Worthy instantly legally manumitted Nancy ; the latter, how- 

 ever, would not quit her " old" mistress, by whom she was reared 

 from childhood, but remained with her as an humble friend to the 

 day of her death. She never prayed without interceding for her 

 benefactors. Her prayers seemed to be efficacious, for within a 

 month the Bull Dog, cruizing off Porto Cabello, took an immensely 

 rich prize ; and after that, sailing through the Carribean Isles, they 

 took three other vessels. Jack, whilst amassing money to manumit 

 the mulatto girl, had learned prudence, so that he saved the whole 

 of his prize money ; and being wounded while cutting out a mer- 

 chantman from under the batteries of St. Pierre, Martinique, he ob- 

 tained a pension, which, together with his savings, rendered his cir- 

 cumstances easy for life. 



