was a father to all the people he took away in his ship, and how kind he
was to them; that he always knocked off their shackles at once and made
friends of them by real kindness.

Mrs. Huntington, to say nothing of her daughter, saw something more than
mere honest admiration in the enthusiastic girl's remarks about the
young commander, and the mother shrewdly determined to question her upon
the theme, and to weigh well her answers.

"Captain Ratlin is very friendly to you, I suppose, Maud?" said Mrs.
Huntington.

"He is friendly to father, and that is the same thing," she replied,
simply.

"Has he not brought you presents across the ocean?" continued the
mother.

"One," said Maud, with evident pleasure, rolling back a long sleeve, and
discovering to her new-made friends a rich golden bracelet, set with
pearls, a rare and beautiful ornament.

"This is indeed beautiful," said the mother.

Mrs. Huntington examined the jewel, while her daughter turned
thoughtfully away! She could not he mistaken; she saw at once that this
rude, uncultivated girl loved the commander of the "Sea Witch," nor did
she wonder at such a fact; but yet she found herself musing and asking
within her own mind whether such a being could make him happy as a wife.
She felt that he was worthy of better companionship, and that,