from which long whiffs of tobacco smoke occasionally escaped, and were borne away upon the wind in graceful and curling clouds to leeward of the vessel. The boatswain, for such was he whom we have just described, was superintending the occupation of two sailmakers who were seated upon their hams like tailors, stitching on the leach-rope of a new storm stay-sail, On the lee side of the booms, abreast of these, were four junior sailors, shuffling a reel to the tune of a one-eyed musician, who was scraping upon an old violin with but two playable strings remaining.

Abaft all were four more actors upon the stage of real life, the anomaly of whose appearance enveloped them in as thick a veil of mystery as was the occupation of the beautiful and ensignless little craft to which they belonged.

The four actors just alluded to, were a fine athletic young man, a little gipsy-eyed girl, a negro woman, and a handsome Newfoundland Dog. The latter was one of the largest kind of that powerful and sagacious breed. Confidingly, and with a most friendly wag of his immense bushy tail, he approached the child, and appeared anxious to win her favour by thrusting his cold wet nose into her bosom; his tongue hung loosely from his mouth as though much heated with previous play. The girl seemed to be just entered upon the most volatile and romping period of childhood, namely, four years old. She could not be called beautiful or fair,-yet there was a something so winning in the sweet expression of her happy shining countenance,-a something so searching and intellectual in the roguish cast of her dark mellow eye, a something so innocent in the goodnatured smile on her lip-that she certainly might be pronounced an

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interesting, a most truly interesting child. The thick lips and flat nose of the negress told her to be one of Africa's dark daughters, perhaps a slave. However, be that as it may-to judge of her by the anxious and fond solicitude she evinced for the child's safety-the while that dear little creature and the dog were rolling upon the deck together-she might have been attached to the object of her care by the ties of blood, rather than by the mere duties of an attendant.

"Picaninny, picaninny-buccra picaninny,"-shouted the negress, as the dog and child were scampering for a twentieth time towards the fore part of the ship. "Come hidder-come hidder."

"Come, deary,"-added she, as the little girl and her playmate returned aft. "Come, deary, peepyby-peepyby-ab time, buccra picaninny, all same hoo-catchee, peepyby."

"Not just yet, Rebecca dear,"-answered the other as she approached her nurse and took her hand with a most beseeching look. "A leetle more play before I go peepyby, Rebecca-kind Rebecca-hark how poor Dolphin is whining because I have left him-see how he begs of you with his tail not to take me away yet. Oh yes, I must stay a leetle longer on deck to night, Rebecca dear-only a very little longer you know, and then I will go to my cot like a good girl."

"Hoo sabba picaninny lub-how many time Rebecca ab talkee-dat lillee gal all same hoo-sud go to peepyby all same him sun-and rise all same him sun tooden will catchee beely good healt-lib long time-be old ooman all same Rebecca and ab too muchee handsome facee,"

"Well, Rebecca, I must go and kiss him first you

know, and if he says I may stay a little longer with poor Dolphin--you can go below and I will come presently."

Beely well deary-go and kiss him Skipper, and bid him good night-me will wait here, till him say hoo no must go yet."

Off bounded the child and sprung upon the knee of the athletic young man who was seated upon the taffrail. With the most expert cunning she fondled about his neck until he acceded to her request and ordered her black attendant to go below till he sent for her.— There was the graceful child scrambling about his person with all the frivolity and happy indifference of her age-heedless of every indecorous attitude, and with a voice full of laughter thrilling melody - there she was striving with all her puerile might to put away the muscular arms of her companion that she might obtain hold of a splendid gilt tassel attached to the rich velvet cap which was carelessly stuck on the side of his head.— The much coveted treasure, after a most violent struggle, was at last obtained-- then away scampered the little gipsy to her favourite to the shaggy participator in all her romps.-The dog pounced upon the new plaything and darted off with it right to the head of the vessel then returned again and challenged the child by his frolicksome and capering attitudes to follow him-she seized hold of that part of the cap which hung from his mouth, then a regular tugg was there for the mastery-then a mock growl and a laugh, —then another pull--at last down went the child, who still tenaciously keeping hold of the cap, was dragged along the deck by her powerful bushy rival, amidst the laughter of the sailors and the growling of the delighted animal in his pretended anger.

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Down, Dolphin, down, sir, I say,” shouted the young man from abaft in a voice of such command, that convinced his hearers he was not one to be trifled with either by man or animal.-Then in a much milder tone he added, "Brunetta, dear, bring hither my cap, there's a good child."

The dog instantly obeyed the voice of the last speaker, the cap was restored to its original owner, and the two playmates were once more carelessly rolling in silence together upon the deck abaft all, between the wheel and the taffrail.

He with the velvet cap, advanced a few steps forwards and examined the vessel's course by the compass, then casting his eye aloft with a scrutinizing glance at the sails, seemed for a while to ruminate within himself. "Call the watch, Cummings."

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Ay, ay, sir," answered the boatswain.

The voice which gave the order seemed to act with a magic power upon the men.-The fiddler in a moment ceased to scrape upon his two-stringed instrument-the reelers knocked off dancing-the caulkers* were awoke, and the whole of the group by the caboose, as well as the fishermen and cardplayers, sprung upon their feet with extraordinary alacrity at the sound thereof.

THE SKIPPER.

THE commander of the Brigantine appeared to be about two and twenty years of age, truly graceful in form and exceedingly handsome, indeed he might have been designated a real sailor Adonis.-Both he and the child, as well as the vessel, wore emblems of mourning,-the

* A term applied to sailors sleeping upon deck on their watch.

dress of the latter being all black, while the former had a piece of black crape stitched round the lower part of his cap,-the jet black hair curling naturally upon his sunburnt and open brow, was but partially hid by the becoming little headpiece, whose tassel hanging gracefully on one side, occasionally lodged upon the brawny shoulder of the wearer. The expression of his countenance was benign in the extreme, yet at times a devilmay-care flash escaped from his large bold eye, that bespoke a spirit within not easily to be controlled, and stamped him as one who was not only born to command, but also to be most promptly obeyed. He wore a blue jacket of canton crape of the very finest quality, lined throughout with delicate buff silk, and most elegantly braided. A black silk handkerchief was tied loosely about his neck with the true nautical knot, and his shirt collar being quite open, exposed muscles whose symmetry the sculptor might have envied for a model. The small curling whiskers which adorned his otherwise feminine smooth cheeks, met in flourishing luxuriance beneath his chin. Round his waist he wore the folds of an ample silk sash, similar to those worn by the infantry officers of our army,-this being very tight, answered the double purpose of strengthening his wind, as well as a sort of brace to his trowsers, which were made of white duck of superior texture, fitting so close to the body that the muscular proportions of his fine formed limbs were quite visible to the eye, and spreading out at the foot to such an extravagant width, that the neat silver buckles which fastened his light thin shoes were completely hid as he stood.

Such was the costume and external appearance of the handsome young Skipper, but as he will form one of the