260 AN ADVENTURE AT SEA. 



" The cords ran swiftly through his glowing hands, 

 And, quick as lightning, on the deck he stands ! " 



" Hah ! — my little younker ! — my eyes, but your a brave *un 

 — You '11 be an Admiral yet — d* ye see ! " exclaimed English 

 Bill, as he joyfully hugged the stripling in his brawny arms. 



The prediction of BiH rang in the ears of Isaac for many a 

 year afterwards. It was like the prophetic sound of the bells to 

 the hearing of Whittington : — 



" Turn again, Whittington — 

 Lord Mayor of great London." 



^ The hasty strides of Seth were again arrested by another shot, 

 which passed through the sail over his head. He folded his arms 

 — looked up at the rent sail — and drew up his form, as if some 

 new purpose had taken possession of his despairing mind. 



" By heaven ! " said he, " I will not part with so fine a ship 

 and cargo, without a deadly struggle ! " 



" Swear not! " said Jethro; " it will not help us in our strait. 

 We may better yield quietly to the necessity. Put down thy helm 

 Seth, and bring the ship to." 



" Yield quietly ! — didst thou say ? — and did 1 understand thee 

 aright, when thou bid me to bring the ship to?" The eyes of 

 Seth glared wildly upon Jethro, and his nostrils distended like 

 those of an infuriated wild bull at bay. " Put down the helm, 

 indeed ! — Pray, neighbour Jethro, who is the commander of the 

 Grampus — thou or I ? '' demanded Seth, in high dudgeon. But 

 he evidently availed himself of the first pretext to let off his anger, 

 for he was waxing exceeding wroth. 



Jethro answered calmly, — " Thou, surely, art her captain — and 

 I yield all to thy discretion. Save the ship, if thou canst; — but 

 thou canst not. We have no means of defence, and, if we had, it 

 would not be justifiable to oppose with arms." 



"Jethro ! My resolution is taken : — I will save this ship, or 

 sink in her. What ! yield to that little gadfly — that gallinipper 

 — that is scarcely larger than our longboat ! " 



Another shot, better directed than the other, splintered a piece 

 from the mainmast, and wounded one of the crew. 



" There, Jethro ! there are some of the tender mercies of the 

 French pirate, and an earnest of what we may all expect, if 

 taken ! " 



*' Yield thee, Selh, yield thee! The longer thou dost delay, 

 so much the more hazard to tlie lives of the people." 



