The Boy Captain of the Black Swallow — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

6 THE BOY CAPTAIN OF THE “BLACK SWALLOW.” yently, looking into her face with deep and grateful interest. ~ The man slowly unclosed his lids, and the set eyeballs moved naturally in their sockets. His lips stirred, and the word water was audibly heard, = It was brought to him by Letty. Arthur took the cup from her hand and placed it to his lips. He drank freely; and revived so as to rise, when he was led by some of them to a bench by the inn door and seated there, CHAPTER III, THE HEROINE. : \HAT was a hard blow, Master Arthur,” T said one of the fishermen. “ You hit hard when you choose to.” “I knew the young fellow had it in him,” answered another; “but he is just like a lion, you see; it takes a good deal to rouse him, ei when he is fairly up, it’s look out, my lads, all!” “Those are the kind of men, I like,” said the landlord, a short, paunchy fellow, with a guest- welcoming smile. “Your blusterers are always cowards, But Ben looks blue round the temples.” “Vil kill him!” said the fellow, morosely, feeling for his knife at his belt. “No, you won't, Ben,” replied one of the men, “he fairly knocked you down, and then brought you to afterwards. If it hadn't been for him you would never have breathed again.” “Was it he bled me ?” ** Yes.” “Then it’s quit! Master Arthur.” Arthur was so occupied that he did not at first hear. Letty, after Ben had got upon his feet, had carefully taken up the broken model from the ground, and placed the fragments in her neat, white apron. Arthur, who had hardly kept his eyes off her since he first be- heid her come out of the inn, saw this, and with a sort of bashful boldness, approached her, siniling, and said: “What, pray, are you going to do with that wreck? Itisno good now. Let me throw it into the river.” ‘No, no, good Master Arthur, I shall keep it and put it in order myself,” she said, siniling, “TT intend to keep it,” she said, with a bewitch- ing air, “on purpose to remember you by.” “To remember me!” in surprise. “I should be indeed happy to he remembered by you. I shall never forget you!” “I wish I could believe you,” she responded, in a low tone, and with downeast eyelids. “T speak truly.” “You never saw me before,” “Yet it seems to me I have long known you. Are you the daughter of Adam Linn ?” * Yes.” “It is strange I have never geen you before, and you so beautiful.” “ft have been away in the country at my — Give me your flipper, aunt’s for three-and-a-half years, and have only been back a month since my stepmother died, as father wants me to keep house for him.” “How did you know myname? You called me Arthur Denwood.” “T had seen you before I went away, though as I was but a child of fifteen, you, perhaps, hardly noticed me; and, besides, you hardly ever came up to town. But you must not go by the inn now without calling to see me, for we are to be great friends.” “With all my heart. But what are you going to do with that broken model ?” “Retain it for a keepsake.” “Ave you in earnest 2?” “ Indeed I am.” “Then let me make you a new one,” “No, I prefer this. Jt will always remind me of this day, when I first spoke to you. I have overheard persons talk of you in the tap, and some spoke evil and some good; but the sood I cherished, and out of the evil I ex- tracted all the malice, envy, and prejudice, and made good of that; so, you see, l had a good opinion of you before I spoke to you from the window, boldly as I did. How tall and hand- sonie you have grown !” “ Everyone must constantly speak to you of your beauty, and I will, therefore, be silent,” he said, with modest gallantry. She blushed at his deep praise, his glances the while expressing more than even his words. For a moment both were silent, and at this crisis Ben Fly called to him. He had to be addressed twice before he heard him, ‘fo, Master Elephant-fist, give us your hand!’ repeated Ben. “Take his hand, but don’t trust him, Arthur,” said the young girl,in an undertone. “ Before you go home come in, as I wish to see you.” With these words she entered the inn, cast- ing back a smiling look, which thrilled through his soul. “What a noble, generous, beautiful girl she is!” thought Arthur. ‘“‘ How happy seeing her has made me! I shall never feel sad again. To think of her, and that she has kind feelings for mo, will always fill me with joy.” This self-confession escaned him unawares, and startled him with its boldness, but, at the same time, the reflection that it was true, and that he did love, filled him with ecstasy unspeakable. Yes, Arthur lovedher! She had captivated his heart completely. In the delightful emotions of his soul he felt he could embrace Ben as the author of his happiness. He hastened up to the sailor, with a glowing cheek and sparkling eye, and taking his hand, grasped it warmly. “ Forgive me, Ben; I did not mean to strike quite so hard.” * You are a regular knockout, Arthur,” said Ben; “but I was in liquor, and deserved what 1 got. They tell me you brought me to life after killing me, That is what I call fair and aboveboard.” “T hope you are pretiy well again ?” ~ “Yes, i have a hard head. I don’t know S (C@) Comichoo