Викрадений

           Butindeed,hewasneithersogoodasIsupposedhim,norquitesobadasRansomedid;for,infact,hewastwomen,andleftthebetteronebehindassoonashesetfootonboardhisvessel.

           Thenextthing,Iheardmyunclecallingme,andfoundthepairintheroadtogether.Itwasthecaptainwhoaddressedme,andthatwithanair(veryflatteringtoayounglad)ofgraveequality.

           “Sir,”saidhe,“Mr.Balfourtellsmegreatthingsofyou;andformyownpart,Ilikeyourlooks.IwishIwasforlongerhere,thatwemightmakethebetterfriends;butwe’llmakethemostofwhatwehave.Yeshallcomeonboardmybrigforhalfanhour,tilltheebbsets,anddrinkabowlwithme.”

           Now,Ilongedtoseetheinsideofashipmorethanwordscantell;butIwasnotgoingtoputmyselfinjeopardy,andItoldhimmyuncleandIhadanappointmentwithalawyer.

           “Ay,ay,”saidhe,“hepassedmewordofthat.But,yesee,theboat’llsetyeashoreatthetownpier,andthat’sbutapennystonecastfromRankeillor’shouse.”Andherehesuddenlyleaneddownandwhisperedinmyear:“Takecareoftheoldtod;hemeansmischief.ComeaboardtillIcangetawordwithye.”Andthen,passinghisarmthroughmine,hecontinuedaloud,ashesetofftowardshisboat:“But,come,whatcanIbringyefromtheCarolinas?AnyfriendofMr.Balfour’scancommand.