one instant how different an aspect all things wore; life, its aims, the
persons he met at the door as he now passed out. Even the foliage seemed
to partake of the freshness of his spirit, and the world to become
rejuvenated and beautified in every aspect in which he could view it.

This was the bright tide of the picture which his imagination, aided by
that gaudy painter and fancy colorer, Hope, had conjured up before his
mind's eye, but the reverse side of the picture was at hand, and now he
paused to ask himself seriously: "Can this be? Who am I? a poor unknown
sailor, fortuneless, friendless, nameless. Who is she? a lady of refined
cultivation, high family, wealth, and beauty. Is it likely that two such
persons as I have considered should be joined by intimate friendship?
can such barriers as these be broken down by love? Alas, I am not so
blind, so foolish, so unreasonable, as to believe it for a moment." So
once more the heart of the young commander was heavy within his breast.

In the mean time Captain Bramble had found an opportunity that afternoon
to see Maud, and to learn from her that Captain Ratlin almost always
slept on board his ship, departing soon after dark for the spot through
the jungle. Satisfied of this, Capt. Bramble once more proceeded to make
his arrangements, for to have seized the vessel without her commander on
board would have been to perform but half the business he had laid out
for the night's engagement. But all seemed now propitious, and he
awaited the darkness with impatience, when he might disembark a couple
of boat loads of sailors and marines, and with the Quadroon for guide
follow the path through the jungle to where the "Sea Witch" lay.

"Why do you muse so long and lonely, my child?" asked Mr. Huntington of
her daughter that afternoon, as she came in and surprised her gazing out
at a window vacantly.