The exchange was instantly made; for no one, there, was ever known to dispute a mandate that was uttered with the air of authority he then wore.  A deeply intent attitude of thought succeeded, and then every shadow of care vanished from that brow, on which a look of high and generous confidence was seated, as he added,—­

“Wilder, adieu!  I leave you Captain of my people and master of my fate:  Certain I am that both trusts are reposed in worthy hands.”

Without waiting for reply, as if he scorned the vain ceremony of idle assurances, he descended swiftly to the boat, which at the next instant was pulling boldly towards the King’s cruiser.  The brief interval which succeeded, between the departure of the adventurers and their arrival at the hostile ship, was one of intense and absorbing suspense on the part of all whom they had left behind.  The individual most interested in the event, however, betrayed neither in eye nor movement any of the anxiety which so intently beset the minds of his followers.  He mounted the side of his enemy amid the honours due to his imaginary rank, with a self-possession and ease that might readily have been mistaken, by those who believe these fancied qualities have a real existence, for the grace and dignity of lofty recollections and high birth.  His reception, by the honest veteran whose long and hard services had received but a meager reward in the vessel he commanded, was frank, manly, and seaman-like.  No sooner had the usual greetings passed, than the latter conducted his guest into his own apartments.

“Find such a birth, Captain Howard, as suits your inclination,” said the unceremonious old seaman, seating himself as frankly as he invited his companion to imitate his example.  “A gentleman of your extraordinary merit must be reluctant to lose time in useless words, though you are so young—­young for the pretty command it is your good fortune to enjoy!”

“On the contrary, I do assure you I begin to feel myself quite an antediluvian,” returned the Rover coolly placing himself at the opposite side of the table, where he might, from time to time, look his half-disgusted companion full in the eye:  “Would you imagine it, sir?  I shall have reached the age of three-and-twenty, if I live through the day.”

“I had given you a few more years, young gentleman; but London can ripen the human face as speedily as the Equator.”

“You never said truer words, sir.  Of all cruising grounds, Heaven defend me from that of St. James’s!  I do assure you, Bignall, the service is quite sufficient to wear out the strongest constitution.  There were moments when I really thought I should have died that humble, disagreeable mortal—­a lieutenant!”

“Your disease would then have been a galloping consumption!” muttered the indignant old seaman.  “They have sent you out in a pretty boat at last, Captain Howard.”

“She’s bearable, Bignall, but frightfully small.  I told my father, that, if the First Lord didn’t speedily regenerate the service, by building more comfortable vessels, the navy would get altogether into vulgar hands.  Don’t you find the motion excessively annoying in these single-deck’d ships, Bignall?”