“N-n-n—­yes—­I dunno!  You see, cap’n, if I wer’ cock sure, as that ’ere little craft you want carried of wer’ yourn.”

“Hush! don’t talk so loud.  You’re not at sea in a gale, you fool.  Well, go on.  Speak quickly and speak lower.”

“I wer’ gwine to say, if so be I wer’ sure you wer’ the cap’n of her, why then it should be plain sailing, with no fog around, and no breakers ahead.”

“Well!  I am, you fool.  She is mine—­my wife.”

“Well, but, cap’n,” said the speaker, still hesitating, “if so be that’s the case, why don’t she strike her colors to her rightful owner?  Why don’t you take command in open daylight, with the drums a-beating, and the flags a-flying?  What must you board her like a pirate in this way fur?  I’ve been a-thinkin’ on it, and I think it’s dangerous steering along this coast.  You see it’s all in a fog; I can’t make out the land nowhere, and I’m afraid I shall be on the rocks afore I knows it.  You see, cap’n, I never wer’ in such a thick mist since I first went to sea.  No offense to you, cap’n!”

“Oh, none in the world!  No skillful pilot will risk his vessel in a fog.  But I have a certain golden telescope of magic powers.  It enables you to see clearly through the thickest mist, the darkest night that ever fell.  I will give it to you.  In other words, I promised you five hundred dollars for this job.  Come, accomplish it to-night, and you shall have a thousand.  Is the mist lifting?”

“I think it is, cap’n!  I begin to see land.”

“Very well! now, is your memory as good as your sight?  Do you recollect the plan?”

“Ay, ay, sir.”

“Just let me hear you go over it.”

“I’m to bring the vessel round, and lay to about a quarter of a mile o’ the coast.  At dusk I’m to put off in a skiff and row to Pine Bluff, and lay under its shadow till I hear your signal.  Then I’m to put to shore and take in the—­the—­”

“The cargo.”

“Ay, ay, sir, the cargo.”

Leaving the two conspirators to improve and perfect their plot, we must return to the breakfast parlor at Luckenough.  The family were assembled around the table.  Dr. Grimshaw’s dark, sombre and lowering looks, enough to have spread a gloom over any circle, effectually banished cheerfulness from the board.  Marian had had no opportunity of reading her note—­she had slipped it into her pocket But as soon as breakfast was over, amid the bustle of rising from the table, Marian withdrew to a window and glanced over the lines.

“My own dearest one, forgive my haste this morning.  I regret the necessity of leaving so abruptly.  I earnestly implore you to see me once more—­upon the beach, near the Pine Bluffs, this evening at dusk.  I have something of the utmost importance to say to you.”

She hastily crumpled the note, and thrust it into her pocket just as Jacquelina’s quizzical face looked over her shoulder.

“You’re going to stay all day with me, Marian?”