“Enough!” he interrupted, “you shall accompany your friend.  The ship will not be emptier than my heart, when all have left me.”

“Did you call?” asked a low voice at his elbow, in tones so plaintive and mild, that they could not fail to catch his ear.

“Roderick,” he hurriedly replied, “you will find occupation below.  Leave us, good Roderick.  For a while, leave me.”

Then, as if anxious to close the scene as speedily as possible, he gave another of his signals on the gong.  An order was given to convey Fid and the black into a boat, whither he also sent the scanty baggage of his female guests.  So soon as these brief arrangements were completed, he handed the governess with studied courtesy, through his wondering people, to the side, and saw her safely seated, with her ward and Wilder, in the pinnace.  The oars were manned by the two seamen, and a silent adieu was given by a wave of his hand; after which he disappeared from those to whom their present release seemed as imaginary and unreal as had appeared their late captivity.

The threat of the interference of the crew of the “Dolphin” was, however, still ringing in the ears of Wilder.  He made an impatient gesture to his attendants to ply their oars, cautiously steering the boat on such a course as should soonest lead her from beneath the guns of the freebooters.  While passing under the stern of the “Dolphin,” a hoarse hail was sent across the waters, and the voice of the Rover was heard speaking to the Commander of the “Dart.”

“I send you a party of your guests,” he said; “and, among them, all the divinity of my ship.”

The passage was short; nor was time given for any of the liberated to arrange their thoughts, before it became necessary to ascend the side of the cruiser of the Crown.

“Heaven help us!” exclaimed Bignall, catching a glimpse of the sex of his visiters through a port “Heaven help us both, Parson!  That young hair brained fellow has sent us a brace of petticoats aboard; and these the profane reprobate calls his divinities!  One may easily guess where he has picked up such quality; but cheer up, Doctor; one may honestly forget the cloth in five fathom water, you know.”

The facetious laugh of the old Commander of the “Dart” betrayed that he was more than half disposed to overlook the fancied presumption of his audacious inferior; furnishing a sort of pledge, to all who heard it, that no undue scruples should defeat the hilarity of the moment.  But when Gertrude, flushed with the excitement of the scene through which she had just passed, and beaming with a loveliness that derived so much of its character from its innocence, appeared on his deck, the veteran rubbed his-eyes in an amazement which could not have been greatly surpassed, had one of that species of beings the Rover had named actually fallen at his feet from the skies.

“The heartless scoundrel!” cried the worthy tar, “to lead astray one so young and so lovely!  Ha! as I live, my own lieutenant!  How’s this, Mr Ark! have we fallen on the days of miracles?”