J3i> utuin Lacscttcr 35pnnrr 
 
 AGNES SURRIAGE. I2mo, $1.25; paper, 50 
 
 cents. 
 
 THE BEGUM'S DAUGHTER. 12010, $1.25. 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. i6mo, $1.25. 
 
 These three Historical Novels, uniform, i6mo, 
 in box, $3.75. 
 PENELOPE'S SUITORS. 24mo, boards, 50 
 
 cents. 
 DAMEN'S GHOST. A Novel. i6mo, $1.00; 
 
 paper, 50 cents. 
 
 AN UNCLOSETED SKELETON. By E. L. 
 BYNNER and LUCRETIA P. HALE. 32mo, 
 boards, 50 cents. 
 
 HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & COMPANY, 
 BOSTON AND NEW YORK.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWIN LASSETTER BYNNER 
 
 AUTHOR OF "AGNES SURRIAGE," "THE BEGUM'S DAUGHTER'' 
 " PENELOPE'S SUITORS," ETC. 
 
 BOSTON AND NEW YORK 
 HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY 
 Ipress, Cambridge 
 
 1892
 
 Copyright, 1892, 
 BY EDWIN LASSETTER BYNNER. 
 
 All rights reserved. 
 
 The Kiverside Press, Cambridge, Mast., U. S. A. 
 Klectrotyped and Priuted by H. O. Houghtou & Co.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 MASTER TILESTON sat making pens at his desk, 
 that famous piece of furniture in whose capacious 
 maw, according to boyish tradition, lay hidden the 
 richest store ever known of tops, marbles, jack- 
 knives, and other toys, collected during a long and 
 memorable career. The crowning event of the school 
 year was close at hand, for Selectmen's Day was more 
 properly an event than a mere arbitrary division of 
 time. It was, moreover, although in no strict sense 
 a crisis, distinctively an ordeal, inasmuch as the re- 
 sults of the year's work were then to appear. Nat- 
 urally enough, therefore, despite his mask of com- 
 posure, Master Tileston showed, by the occasional 
 twitching of an eyelid and the tapping of his silver- 
 buckled shoe upon the floor, signs of inward dis- 
 turbance. Let it not be thought from this that the 
 good man lacked confidence in himself. On the 
 contrary, it may be doubted if anybody ever had a 
 juster estimate of his own powers. His present agi- 
 tation was due simply to the approach of an unusual 
 event in a life of absolute routine. Besides, he knew 
 the best and the worst of Selectmen's Day; it was, 
 
 1711-132
 
 2 ZACTTAEY P Til PS. 
 
 after all, an old story, for he had weathered many an 
 anniversary of it since the time when he first came 
 as Master Hicks 's usher to join the famous North 
 Writing School of Old Boston. 
 
 After the hint already let drop, it need hardly be 
 added that Master Tileston was no longer a young 
 man. Yet, notwithstanding the fact that his youth 
 and his prime were misty bygones, his influence re- 
 mained unimpaired. Whether this was due to the 
 suggestion of energy still apparent in his unbowed 
 figure, to the look of authority in his severe eyes, to 
 the expression of firmness in his close-shut lips, or, 
 more likely than all, to the traditions of a half cen- 
 tury of wholesome old-time discipline handed down 
 from one generation of unruly boys to another, cer- 
 tain it is that Master Tileston was still an object 
 of respect, not to say terror, to his flock. 
 
 Being thus secure of his authority in the main, he 
 showed none of the small anxiety of weak men to 
 uphold it in little points. He was nobly above 
 watching and spying, and the like petty pedagogic 
 tricks. Trusting solely to rule and precept, he little 
 dreamed how much he owed in the way of influence 
 to the effect produced by his own awe-inspiring pres- 
 ence, nor again how much that effect was heightened 
 by an unconscious conservatism in the matter of 
 dress. The truth is, if his garb had been fashioned 
 to that very end, it could not have served better the 
 purpose of enhancing the grim majesty of his per- 
 son. His cocked hat, his powdered wig, his long- 
 skirted coat, his voluminous waistcoat, and lastly 
 his silver - headed Malacca stick, still carefully
 
 ZACHABY P II IPS. 3 
 
 preserved in the collection of the Bostonian Society, 
 with its queer joint at the top suggesting a hidden 
 Toledo blade, these were the accessories of a per- 
 son not to be lightly encountered save by the inno- 
 cent and pure in heart. 
 
 Just now, however, the cocked hat is hanging 
 quietly on the wall, the Malacca cane stands peace- 
 fully in the corner, and Master Tileston is intent on 
 making his pens. Probably there never lived upon 
 earth one who could more deftly and speedily con- 
 vert a goose-quill into a medium for formulating 
 thought. With swift, clean stroke he made the first 
 transverse cut, with nicest judgment slit and blunted 
 the nib; and having with a critical air tried each 
 transformed feather on his thumbnail, he threw it 
 upon the table before him. When the last pen was 
 finished he swept away the litter, drew towards him 
 a pile of copybooks, and having tested upon a piece 
 of waste paper the stroke of his own especial quill, 
 he canted his head the least bit to one side, com- 
 pressed his lips, and with the confident air of one 
 supereminent in his craft proceeded to write at the 
 head of the final page in each book, in bold, clear 
 script, the last copy of the year, 
 
 HONOR AND SHAME FROM NO CONDITION RISE. 
 
 Not the least surprising thing about Master Tile- 
 ston was the fact that he managed to write at all ; 
 for having when a child fallen into the fire, the 
 flames had so maimed and distorted his right hand 
 that it seemed little better than a stump. None the 
 less it was, as all agreed, his most characteristic mem-
 
 4 ZACIIARY mips. 
 
 ber, at once an object of ridicule and of respectful 
 regard; for, as described in after years by a distin- 
 guished pupil of the old pedagogue, a stroke from 
 those crumpled fingers was like nothing so much as a 
 blow from the beak of an albatross. For the rest it 
 needed only to adjust any required utensil between 
 the distorted thumb and fingers, and directly the 
 old master showed himself capable of wielding it, 
 whether quill, penknife, or rattan, with memorable 
 effect. 
 
 Ranged before Master Tileston on that warm 
 summer morning, away back in the beginning of the 
 century, were thirty or forty boys of ages varying 
 from six to fourteen years. They sat upon wooden 
 benches without backs, and had before them long 
 forms, on which they lolled and sprawled at their 
 writing or ciphering. 
 
 While Master Tileston prepared the copybooks, 
 Usher Carter at the back of the room was practicing 
 a class in reading the Beatitudes, for at a day still 
 long before the era of reading-books, the Bible usu- 
 ally furnished the text for exercises of that kind. 
 The long forenoon was nearly spent, when, wearied 
 by the silence and restraint and perhaps encouraged 
 by the absorbed air of their instructor, certain rest- 
 less boys began to hitch about on their benches, 
 throw paper-balls, slyly kick their neighbors, and 
 in divers other ways seek relief for their long-pent 
 spirits. 
 
 Master Tileston seemed too much engrossed in 
 his task to note these skirmishes. Perhaps he was 
 really engrossed, perhaps he had schooled himself to
 
 ZACIIARY 1'Ilirx. 5 
 
 a wise insensibility to the small disturbances of the 
 schoolroom. Be that as it may, the roguish offenders, 
 emboldened by success, presently proceeded to more 
 flagrant breaches of decorum. Still Master Tile- 
 ston sat, with attention, as it seemed, fixed exclusively 
 upon his copy, as he firmly rounded the tails of his 
 letters, or opened with careful precision the loops of 
 his f's,his h's and his 1's. 
 
 At last one audacious third-bencher succeeded in 
 fastening a rude cartoon to the coat-tail of Usher 
 Carter, as that unsuspecting young man passed up 
 the aisle. This was a test quite too severe for any 
 boy's gravity. A murmur of suppressed tittering 
 swelled in the small space of a minute to an irre- 
 pressible outburst of laughter, as Usher Carter, 
 returning down the aisle, innocently flaunted the 
 grotesque placard in the eyes of the whole school. 
 
 Directly Master Tileston awoke to the occasion. 
 
 Deliberately putting down his quill, he came forth 
 in front of his desk, stamped on the floor, and in a 
 voice of thunder cried, 
 
 "Silence!" 
 
 There was a moment's pause, broken by spasmodic 
 gigglings from one or two boys whose sense of humor 
 overrode all fear of consequences. 
 
 "A body 'd think Bedlam had broke loose here. 
 What is it? eh? What's the matter, I say? 
 You, sir, what are you laughing at? " 
 
 "That! that ! " pointing at Usher Carter's back. 
 
 "Who did it?" demanded the master sharply, as 
 the giggling broke out afresh. "Was that you, 
 AbelHubbard?"
 
 6 ZACI1ARY PII1PS. 
 
 A boy sitting at the end of the bench hesitated 
 and changed color. 
 
 "Come here, sir! Come here to me!" continued 
 Master Tileston, with a significant movement to- 
 wards his desk. 
 
 Hubbard arose, and went forward with faltering 
 step. The tittering had quite ceased now. A pin 
 might have been heard to drop in the room. Mean- 
 while Master Tileston removed his glasses, settled 
 his wig upon his head, took a stout rattan from his 
 desk, and, with a truly terrible deliberation, adjusted 
 it in his maimed hand. Then pausing, to assure 
 himself by a glance of the attention of the school, 
 he seized the culprit by the collar and plied the rod 
 upon his back and shoulders until he roared again. 
 
 "There, sir," said the venerable disciplinarian, 
 stopping to catch breath, "now, sir, try your hand 
 at making another picture." 
 
 "I I d-didn't make it," whimpered the boy, 
 rubbing his smarting back. "I I only pinned it 
 on." 
 
 "Who did make it, then?" 
 
 The boy was silent. 
 
 "Who did make it? I say," repeated the master, 
 brandishing the rattan. 
 
 "S-Seth Mather." 
 
 "Oh, so Seth made it? " directing his eyes towards 
 a stout boy on the second bench. "Seth, you may 
 come here, sir." 
 
 The dismayed artist kept his seat. 
 
 "If I have to come after you, you '11 remember 
 it!"
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 1 
 
 Knowing, perhaps, from experience the signifi- 
 cance of this threat, Seth stumbled up to the desk. 
 
 "So you made that picture, did you?" 
 
 "I I did n't mean to. " 
 
 "Didn't mean to, eh? "repeated Master Tileston, 
 giving him a sudden cuff with the crumpled hand 
 which made him reel. "You meant to make a map, 
 I suppose ! You meant to do a sum in vulgar frac- 
 tions," went on the teacher, emphasizing each with- 
 ering sarcasm with a fresh blow. "Now, go to your 
 seat, sir ! Go to your seats, both of you ! Mr. Car- 
 ter, let your class attend to me! I 've got a word 
 to say to this school." 
 
 Usher Carter, pausing in his exercise, gave atten- 
 tion at this unusual summons. Master Tileston put 
 on his glasses and cleared his throat. 
 
 "You all know," he began, with memorable em- 
 phasis, "that it is Selectmen's Day to-morrow; 
 that the officers of the town and other visitors are 
 coming here to see what kind of a school I keep. 
 Now, they won't find you 've 1'arned a great deal, 
 but they will find that you can keep order, or I '11 
 know the reason why. There have been too many 
 monkey-shines going on here lately, and it 's got to 
 be stopped, I tell you now an' here! " 
 
 The speaker stamped his foot and raised his stump 
 in solemn warning as he concluded : 
 
 " Mark my words, now ! any boy caught whisper- 
 ing or playing, from this time until the close of 
 school to-morrow, will get a flogging he '11 remem- 
 ber to the end of his days." 
 
 This speech, preceded by the sharp discipline
 
 8 ZACIIARY PHIPS. 
 
 above described, produced an immediate effect. The 
 boys, in sobered mood, addressed themselves again 
 to their studies. Usher Carter proceeded with his 
 recitation, while Master Tileston, with an air of sat- 
 isfaction, went back to his seat. 
 
 Adjusting his ruffles, he drew forth a japanned 
 snuff-box, tapped it deliberately, and, having care- 
 fully packed each expectant nostril with the pun- 
 gent dust, calmly proceeded with his work as if in 
 entire forgetfulness of the little episode which had 
 just taken place. 
 
 But, as it proved, the morning was not to pass 
 without other experiences. On the very first row 
 of benches, and directly before the 'master's desk, 
 sat Zachary Phips, son of Obadiah Phips, the well- 
 known maltster of the North End. Zachary, who, 
 judging by his size, seemed about eight years of 
 age, was otherwise a gawky, ungainly -looking child. 
 His hair was long and none too well combed, his 
 face might have been cleaner, and his hands were 
 downright grimy. He was dressed in a pair of 
 homespun breeches, big, clumsy shoes, and a long- 
 sleeved apron of coarse blue cotton, familiarly known 
 as a "swingle-toe." 
 
 Zach had been an attentive witness of the disci- 
 pline above described, and, naturally impressed with 
 Master Tileston 's warning, he turned with renewed 
 attention to his lessons. 
 
 As he sat with elbows leaned upon the whittled 
 and ink-splashed form before him, conning his Dil- 
 worth's Speller, which, save a battered copy of the 
 Psalter, was his only schoolbook, a voice sounded 
 in his ear:
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 9 
 
 "Zach! Zach!" 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "Lend me your blow-rag! " 
 
 "Ain't got any." 
 
 " Ho o o ! ' ' incredulously. 
 
 "Marm Dinely won't gimme another, 'cause I 
 lost that one last week at Winnisimmet." 
 
 "I shall take your apron then." 
 
 "Let go!" 
 
 "I got to wipe my nose! " 
 
 "Stop, I say. Johnny Crump is lookin' ! " 
 
 "Phips, are you whispering? " 
 
 This question, asked in a certain repressed rau- 
 cous tone well known to every experienced ear in 
 the school, struck a silence through the room. The 
 boy who was drawling through the Beatitudes stopped 
 mid-phrase in "Blessed are the merciful." All felt 
 that a crisis was at hand. 
 
 "Come here to me, sir! " 
 
 The tone was ominous. With natural reluctance, 
 the small culprit arose and went shuffling forward, 
 his grimy hands nervously fumbling with his long 
 apron. 
 
 "Stand there! Now, sir, were you whispering? 
 I say." 
 
 There was no answer. 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "Yeah, I was," at last faltered the offender, 
 twisting his apron up into knots the while, and 
 watching every movement of his stern judge with 
 anxious interest. 
 
 "What were you whispering about?" continued
 
 10 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 the master with a calmness more terrible than any 
 violence. 
 
 "I I don't know I forget." 
 
 "Repeat to me the very words you said! " 
 
 There was a pause ; then, whether from a native 
 scorn of prevarication, whether from a shrewd per- 
 ception of the uselessness of any extenuating plea, 
 Zach clinched his hands, straightened his sturdy 
 little figure, and stammered, 
 
 "I I only said" 
 
 "Goon, sir!" 
 
 "Johnny Crump is lookin' ! " 
 
 Nettled by this opprobrious nickname founded 
 upon his deformity, which generations of boys had 
 handed down to their successors in the school, and 
 furthermore incensed at this speedy defiance of his 
 late warning, Master Tileston turned perceptibly 
 pale as he rose from his seat and came out before 
 the desk. 
 
 "Oh, you only said 'Johnny Crump is lookin' ; ' 
 that was all you said?" he remarked, as with a 
 blood-curdling air of preparation, he slowly turned 
 back his ruffles. "That was all, eh? Well, Johnny 
 Crump was looking, as you will find to your cost! " 
 
 The blows dealt by the outraged master were so 
 merciless that after a whole minute's endurance the 
 sufferer, with a sudden wrench, broke from his hold, 
 and, whirling about on the amazed pedagogue, 
 cried, 
 
 "You '11 never lick me again, old Johnny Crump, 
 Crumpity Crump! " 
 
 Whereupon, before the dumfounded master could
 
 ZACIIARY PIIIPS. 11 
 
 interfere, he darted from the room, shutting the 
 door behind him with a resounding slam. 
 
 Once out of doors, Zach's first thought was to 
 avoid pursuit. He lost no time in deliberation, but 
 darting across North Bennett Street, on which the 
 school stood, he scaled a fence, and making his way 
 by short cuts, well known to him, through the inter- 
 vening gardens, he came out into Prince Street, and 
 thence took a bee line to Dock Square, where, wan- 
 dering into the stable yard of the old Brasier Inn, 
 he mingled with the crowd of teamsters, hostlers, 
 and hangers-on, and for the first time stopped to 
 take breath and counsel. 
 
 While he stood looking about, thinking where to 
 go and what to do next, the ringing of the noontide 
 bell in a steeple hard by reminded him that it was 
 dinner-time, while certain savory odors from the inn 
 kitchen awoke in him cravings natural to one who 
 had not broken his fast since six o'clock in the 
 morning. 
 
 The voice of this inward monitor became more 
 imperative as the short noon-hour slipped away. 
 He turned on his heel and walked down the yard so 
 that he might not see the greedy men within at their 
 meal. There, seated on an old cart-wheel, he thought 
 of the family at home gathered about the humble 
 board in Salutation Alley, and of the wondering 
 comments of his father and his step-mother as to his 
 absence. Yet dared he not go home, lest he might 
 encounter Master Tilestoii, or some of his emissa- 
 ries come to give a report of his revolt. 
 
 Meantime the precious moments were fast slipping
 
 12 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 away. He walked about the stable yard aimlessly. 
 He could not make up his mind to anything. lie 
 had- no money to get a dinner at the inn. He had 
 no friend to whom he dared appeal. The prospect 
 of another six-hour fast seemed, from the boy's 
 point of view, appalling. In the midst of his doubt- 
 ing and hesitation, the guests came filing out of the 
 old inn with unctuous lips and comfortable looks 
 of satiety, bandying stupid jokes and picking flieir 
 teeth with straws. 
 
 Reflecting that, by this time, the danger of meet- 
 ing Master Tileston was lessened by the approach 
 of the hour for the afternoon session, he skirted 
 the dock, and going a roundabout way, presently 
 arrived in the rear of his father's garden, which 
 stretched back from Salutation Alley to Battery 
 Street. 
 
 There, skulking behind the lilac bushes for an 
 observation, he at last crept up to the back door, 
 and with an air of innocence, very clumsily assumed, 
 entered the house. 
 
 He halted in the little passageway, and looked 
 furtively towards the half-opened kitchen door. 
 The smell of boiled cabbage pervading the premises 
 made his mouth water, and thus rebellious appetite 
 pricked on his flagging resolution. 
 
 Calling up a look of determination, he at last en- 
 tered the room. On the hearthstone, otherwise lit- 
 tered with pots and pans, stood his father, who had 
 just taken a live coal from the embers to light his 
 pipe ; his step-mother, with bustling movement, was 
 clearing the table. From the look which the two
 
 ZACHARY PH1PS. 13 
 
 turned upon the culprit as he entered, it was clear 
 that he had been the subject of their conversation. 
 
 Mrs. Phips, born Rebecca Dinely, was a middle- 
 aged woman, with an air of energy befitting one who 
 did her own housework without the aid of slave or 
 servant. 
 
 Constant drudgery left her small leisure for the 
 cultivation of other faculties than those called into 
 exercise by her narrow round of duties, a fact not 
 to be lost sight of in any summary of her faults and 
 merits as an individual. To care for her household, 
 do her duty as a neighbor, and maintain her good 
 and regular standing as a member of the church 
 hard by in Methodist Alley, this was her aim in life, 
 and who shall say it was not a worthy and adequate 
 one judged from any standpoint? If in the govern- 
 ment of her step-children she stretched certain se- 
 vere old maxims as far as they could well go, it was 
 all done, be sure, under the guidance of an active 
 regulating conscience, and Mrs. Rebecca would have 
 answered a call to judgment at any moment with as 
 little misgiving as any misguided zealot who ever 
 died at martyr's stake. 
 
 " So ! " she cried, at sight of Zach halting in the 
 doorway, "you've come home, runaway! What 
 d' ye want here ? We harbor no truants here ! " 
 
 Zach, seeing that Master Tileston had been be- 
 forehand with him, vouchsafed no explanation. 
 
 "A pretty piece of business," went on Mistress 
 Becky, rattling her dishes, "running away! What 
 d' ye come here for, I say?" 
 
 "I want my dinner! " said Zach.
 
 14 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 "Ye won't git any dinner here, I can tell ye that. 
 I ain't got any dinner for runaways! " 
 
 Gathering himself for a defiant answer, the offen- 
 der caught his father's eye. The worthy maltster 
 tipped his son a solemn wink. But whether misun- 
 derstanding this signal, or disdaining any subterfuge, 
 the wrathful boy persisted in a rebellious tone : 
 
 "I 'm hungry, an' I want sun thin' to eat." 
 
 "We don't keep vittles here for runaways, I tell 
 
 ye." 
 
 "I ain't a runaway," answered Zach sullenly. 
 
 "What ye doin' here, then, this time o' day? 
 What ye got to say for yerself ? " 
 
 Zach made no answer, but looked wistfully to- 
 wards the pantry. 
 
 "Ye goin' to answer me when I speak, or not?" 
 continued his step-mother, seizing him by the collar 
 and giving him a vigorous shake. 
 
 "Let go! Let go o' me, old Marm Dinely!" 
 shouted the incensed boy. 
 
 "I '11 let go o' ye when I git through, and not 
 afore! " retorted the conscientious Becky, as by turns 
 she cuffed and shook her struggling victim. 
 
 "Father! father!" shouted Zach, turning again 
 for succor to his natural parent. 
 
 The cautious Obadiah looked ill at ease. A flush 
 passed over his irresolute face. He cleared his 
 throat, and said, in a tone of feeble protestation, 
 
 "I guess ye 've gin him enough, Becky." 
 
 "Who asked you to guess any thin' about it? I 
 know when 1 've gin him enough 'thout any advice 
 from you."
 
 ZACHAEY PI1IP8. 15 
 
 "Father! stop her, father! " appealed Zach again. 
 
 "I '11 father ye ! " cried Mistress Becky, dragging 
 her prisoner towards the door; "you come along o' 
 me ! If yer father had the spunk of a mouse, he 'd 
 take ye back to school himself; but if he don't, I 
 will!" 
 
 " Stop ! Stop ! Leave me alone ! I won't go ! " 
 roared the culprit, holding back with might and 
 main. 
 
 "Master Tileston '11 see to your case," continued 
 the energetic step -mother, as, having propelled her 
 charge into the yard, she turned to shut the door. 
 "I don't b'lieve you '11 want to run away agin in a 
 hurry ! " 
 
 Seizing the opportunity when his captor was oc- 
 cupied with the latch, Zach broke from her hold and 
 darted away. Turning when at a safe distance, he 
 picked up a stone, and, with a voice hoarse from 
 rage and hate, cried, as he flung it at the pursuing 
 matron, 
 
 "Bah! bah! bah! old Marm Dinely, you go to 
 the devil!" 
 
 Having vented his spite in this shocking manner, 
 he ran away as fast as his legs could carry him. 
 Choking with anger, sobbing with grief, he darted 
 in and out the neighboring streets until, having 
 baffled pursuit, he betook himself to a favorite 
 haunt upon Scarlett's Wharf, where, sitting down 
 on a water-soaked log, he gave way to his feelings 
 in a long and violent fit of weeping. 
 
 Relieved by this outburst, he gradually resumed 
 his self-control. Drying his eyes, he looked about
 
 16 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 and found himself in the midst of a bustling scene. 
 A coasting vessel was being loaded for sea. 
 'Longshoremen, stevedores, and sailors were hurry- 
 ing to and fro, rolling casks, carrying bags and sacks, 
 with the usual accompaniment of shouting and curs- 
 ing. Insensibly Zach grew interested; he made his 
 way to the edge of the dock and looked down upon 
 the littered deck. Directly he heard himself hailed ; 
 it was a burly sailor, who cried, 
 
 "Say, Bub, run up to the Ship Tavern an' git 
 me some 'baccy, ther 's a hearty ! " 
 
 Delighted to be of service to any one, Zach picked 
 up the coin which was flung at him, and darted off 
 to execute the commission. 
 
 When he returned, the sailor had disappeared. 
 Zach walked over the gang-plank to the vessel to 
 find him. Having delivered the tobacco he loitered 
 to look about. In the hurry of the moment nobody 
 heeded him. A thought entered his head. Watch- 
 ing his chance, he worked his way forward, went 
 below, and hid himself in the forecastle, where, 
 worn out with fatigue and the unusual excitement 
 of the day, he presently fell asleep.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 ZACH was awakened by a^shake of the arm and a 
 gruff voice sounding in his ear. He started up be- 
 wildered. Two or three rough-looking men stood 
 about his makeshift couch. The strange place, the 
 bearded faces, the dim light, afforded the fit setting 
 for a nightmare. Vainly, however, he strove to 
 connect Master Tileston, his step-mother, his es- 
 cape, of which he had just been dreaming, with this 
 odd, cramped little place, this dizzying motion, and 
 these curious, unfriendly eyes bent upon him. 
 
 "Wot ye doin' of here?" demanded the man who 
 held Zach by the arm. 
 
 "Stealin' ago." 
 
 "Cuttin' stick." 
 
 "Givin' leg bail." 
 
 The suggestions poured in from the bystanders, 
 not inexperienced in cases of the sort. 
 
 "Haul him up on deck! Sharky '11 settle his 
 case," counseled a one-eyed tar. 
 
 "An' make short work of it, too! " added a neigh- 
 bor, who had an anchor tattooed on his low forehead. 
 
 "He '11 h'ist him overboard, an' sarve him right," 
 went on the One-eyed. 
 
 "Ay, with a brick in his pocket for ballast," 
 grunted Zach's captor. 
 
 "Huh! the brick ain't baked yet 'ud sink Mm;
 
 18 Z A CHARY P1IIPS. 
 
 water can't drown these yer w'arf rats," put in the 
 Tattooed. 
 
 Lying there in the midst of the group as help- 
 less as a stray kid in a den of wolves, Zach was not 
 composed enough to suspect that their bark might 
 be worse than their bite. He took all their rough 
 chaff in earnest. Not being able to speak for lumps 
 in his throat, he dropped his eyes and sulked. 
 
 "Come, drag him out I " went on the last speaker, 
 detecting Zach's dismay. 
 
 "Hold hard! Wot ye got there?" broke in a 
 newcomer, peeping over the shoulders of his mess- 
 mates. 
 
 "Move up, lubbers, an' give Sandy a squint! " 
 
 "Eh? Hanged if he ain't the brat fetched me 
 the 'baccy; d' ye 'member me, young un? " 
 
 Zach nodded eagerly. 
 
 "Oh, stow him away! Give him a chance; 
 where 's the harm in him?" pleaded Sandy. 
 
 "Sharky 's sure to nose him out sooner or later." 
 
 "An' then 't '11 go wuss with him." 
 
 "An' wuss with us." 
 
 "'N' the deuce to pay all round," answered the 
 others in justification. 
 
 "Ay, ay. Le's take him along up," said the 
 One-eyed, anxious not to lose a chance of sport. 
 "Everythin' 's taut. Sharky 's had his grog, 'n' 
 he 's in good feather." 
 
 "Right!" 
 
 "Haulaway! " 
 
 "Ay, ay!" 
 
 This being the general verdict, Zach was taken
 
 ZACUARY r HIPS. 19 
 
 on deck and led aft before the mate, otherwise 
 known as Sharky, a burly man, whose big jaw 
 and protruding teeth amply justified the sobriquet. 
 
 " Whar 'd ye git him ? " he asked, looking Zach 
 over quizzically. 
 
 "Asleep in the fo'cas'le." 
 
 "How come ye down thar ?" 
 
 "I want to be a sailor," blurted out Zach, driven 
 to a corner. 
 
 "Humph! " grunted the mate, by no means pro- 
 pitiated. "Wot 's yer name? " 
 
 "Zach." 
 
 "Whard' ye hail from?" 
 
 "Salutation Alley." 
 
 "Boston Town?" 
 
 "Yeah." 
 
 "Folks live thar?" 
 
 "Yeah." 
 
 "Wot 'd ye run away for? " 
 
 "The schoolmaster licked me " 
 
 A guffaw from the listening sailors interrupted 
 the speaker. 
 
 "'N' she wouldn't gimme anythin' to eat," he 
 concluded, with a resentful glance at them. 
 
 "Who'ssAe?" 
 
 " Marm Dinely ; she married my old man, but she 
 ain't my mother." 
 
 "A hawk in the hen-roost, eh?" with a chuckle. 
 "So the schoolmaster licked ye? Sarved ye right, 
 too; how's he goin' to larn ye anythin 'thout 
 whalin' ? He '11 give ye wuss 'n' that when he gits 
 ye back."
 
 20 ZACIIAUY PHI PS. 
 
 "I don't want to go back. I want to stay here." 
 
 "Ain't no room here for brats," answered the 
 mate definitively, as he cut a fresh quid of tobacco. 
 
 "This 'ere kind grows like a weed, sir," put in 
 Sandy, "if ye 'd have patience to hold on a bit." 
 
 "I ain't in the wet-nuss business," growled the 
 mate. "Send him back on the next coastin' 
 smack! " 
 
 "I won't go back!" shouted Zach desperately. 
 "I want to be a sailor! " 
 
 "'A sailor'!" repeated Sharky contemptuously, 
 spattering Zach's feet with a shower of tobacco- 
 juice. "I can't make a sailor out o' a swab like you 
 no more 'n I can make a whistle out o' a pig's tail. 
 Take him along! " he concluded, in an undertone, to 
 the sailors. 
 
 But Zach's wrathful look as he was dragged away 
 appealed in some way to Sharky's sense of humor, 
 for as if struck by a sudden thought he called out: 
 
 " Hold on, there ! Bring him back. Look here, 
 young un, you know all about a ship now, I reckon, 
 eh?" 
 
 "I know a good deal," said Zach stoutly. 
 
 "Can ye shin up a mast? " 
 
 "I gu-guess so." 
 
 "Go aloft, then, an' overhaul them throat hal- 
 yards ! " said the mate, with a mischievous wink at 
 the men standing near. 
 
 Without hesitation Zach made the attempt. 
 Grasping the shrouds as he had often seen the 
 sailors do, he made fair enough headway until 
 he reached the masthead. Here, pausing to take
 
 ZACHAEY rillPti. 21 
 
 breath, unhappily he cast a look downward towards 
 the deck. Directly his head began to feel queer; 
 he looked upward doubtfully and hesitated, but, en- 
 couraged by a murmur of applause from those below, 
 he kept on. By and by a lurch of the vessel set the 
 mast swaying; his giddiness increased; he paused, 
 hesitated, and again looked down. 
 
 A scoffing laugh from the mate and a confused cry 
 from the sailors nerved him to another desperate 
 effort. Seizing the stay with trembling fingers, he 
 shut his eyes, clinched his teeth, and made a last 
 determined attempt to go on. In vain; his boyish 
 will availed nothing against the whirring dizziness, 
 the disabling nausea. He wavered a moment, 
 loosed his hold, and fell. Happily the topping lift, 
 throwing him into the belly of the sail, broke his 
 fall. As it was, he struck the deck with force 
 enough to render him insensible. 
 
 There was a murmur of sympathy and indignation 
 among the sailors, quickly silenced by the mate, who, 
 finding upon examination that a flutter of life was 
 left, promptly washed his hands of any further re- 
 sponsibility. 
 
 "Take him below, an' keep the little fool out 
 from under my feet. I won't have no orphan asy- 
 lum round here." 
 
 In obedience to orders, Sandy and another took 
 up the senseless Zach and carried him below. There 
 being no surgeon aboard, at the cook's suggestion 
 they stripped off his clothes and rubbed him vigor- 
 ously with New England rum, ending by pouring a 
 good stiff dose of it down his throat.
 
 22 ZACUARY PHIPS. 
 
 Under this heroic treatment Zach presently re- 
 vived, and returned to a consciousness of much phy- 
 sical pain and mental misery. 
 
 Having, in their rough fashion, done what they 
 could for him, the two sailors went away, leaving 
 poor Zach moaning in his bunk. The cook from 
 time to time thrust in his black head with a look of 
 inquiry, as if to see whether he were alive or dead; 
 and presently, more by way of experiment than be- 
 nevolence, brought in a bowl of hot broth. This, 
 acting upon the fasting and exhausted patient as a 
 sedative, threw him into a deep sleep, which lasted 
 the whole night. 
 
 Early in the morning Zach awoke. It cost him 
 several minutes of hard thinking to account for his 
 surroundings, and realize his situation. Thereupon, 
 finding his head clear and his nausea gone, he 
 thought himself quite well. When he tried to move, 
 however, he discovered his mistake. There was 
 something very odd and mysterious the matter. He 
 found himself inextricably mixed up with a lot of 
 sore and aching bones, which seemed not to belong 
 to him. 
 
 As getting up was out of the question, he could 
 only lie and listen to the strange noises, and wonder 
 what they meant ; wonder how far the ship was on 
 her way ; wonder what time of day or night it was, 
 for the glimmering light in the forecastle afforded 
 little guide. It was dark when the crew turned in 
 and dark when they got up ; it seemed always dark 
 there. The cook brought food at irregular hours, 
 as suited his convenience; but, for the rest, was
 
 ZACHABY PIIIPS. 23 
 
 peevish and would answer no questions. Thus day 
 and night were much the same to Zach. He took, 
 perforce, no note of time, save of its dreary, da.teless 
 lapse. Again and again he groaned aloud from 
 pure weariness, yet nobody heeded him. 
 
 As a veritable relief in the midst of it all, there 
 arose one day or one night a commotion on deck ; a 
 rushing about of heavy feet, a rattling of cordage, a 
 flapping of sails, mingled with excited cries. Very 
 soon the vessel began to pitch and toss in a violent 
 way. Up, up, up, she swept, until, to Zach's excited 
 fancy, they touched the clouds; then, poising one 
 breathless minute on the zenith's point, they went 
 plunging down, down, down, as it seemed, to the 
 oozy bottom of the sea. Through it all resounded 
 the hoarse voice of the captain shouting orders to the 
 crew. For years the odd words were fixed in the 
 hearer's memory, and rang in his ears like a song's 
 refrain. 
 
 "All hands ahoy! Lower away the halyards! 
 Haul in the sheets! Heave-o-yo-o ! Take in the 
 spanker ! Brail up ! Man the clew-garnets ! Ease 
 away the sheet! Hand the mainsail! Lay aloft! 
 Set the spencer! Haul aft the sheet! Heave- 
 o-yo-o! " and the like meaningless jargon. 
 
 The gale lasted unnumbered hours; to Zach it 
 seemed days. Thus tossed about, he once more fell 
 a prey to nausea. By turns he slept, but these 
 fragmentary naps seemed only to add to his bewil- 
 derment and misery. Gradually he awoke to a 
 realizing sense that the sea had subsided, that the 
 turmoil had ceased, and that the vessel was again 
 gliding smoothly through the water.
 
 24 ZACHARY PHI PS. 
 
 Thereupon ho began again to take note of his own 
 condition. It seemed to him that he was deserted 
 and forgotten by all the world. In his bitterness 
 he thought regretfully of his old life in Salutation 
 Alley, with all its drawbacks. 
 
 His musings were interrupted by a gruff voice at 
 his side. 
 
 "Hello, shipmate! how goes it?" 
 
 He looked up quickly and recognized Sandy. He 
 tried to speak, but instead of words there came a 
 flood of tears. 
 
 "How now, young un! what 's up? " 
 
 It was of no use; every effort at articulation 
 ended in convulsive sobs. The elements having sub- 
 sided, Zach was taking his turn at having a little 
 gale of his own, a tempest which, with due regard 
 to masses and forces, might well have been compared 
 to the vaporous one. All the grief and wrath with 
 which his little heart was packed came oozing forth 
 in those scalding tears. 
 
 Sandy looked on amazed. It is doubtful if he 
 had ever before witnessed such a human simoom. 
 He stammered one or two words of protest, and 
 stolidly waited. 
 
 The storm duly spent itself, the tears at last 
 ceased to flow, and the throbbing heart slowed down 
 to its normal running time. 
 
 "Got through?" asked Sandy sympathetically. 
 
 Zach did not deign to answer. He received with 
 a resentful air this eleventh-hour comfort. 
 
 "I say, Bub, I ben thinkin' 'bout you," went on 
 the visitor, taking off his cap and scratching his
 
 Z A CHARY PHI PS. 25 
 
 matted hair as by-play to his talk. '"T ain't ben 
 downright easy cruisin' with me, but it seems ez ef 
 you must 'a' hed a long spell o' thick weather, to 
 bawl like thet." 
 
 Still unpropitiated, Zach made no reply, but sulk- 
 ily studied the speaker askance. 
 
 One could, indeed, hardly help looking at him. 
 lie was of that not uncommon type whose physical 
 traits reach a pitch of ugliness where they acquire a 
 distinctively fascinating value. He had a tall, gaunt, 
 loose-jointed figure, a homely, freckled face, and a 
 shock of carroty hair. He was, furthermore, dis- 
 tinguished by an aggressively bony look; his skel- 
 eton seemed struggling at every point to assert it- 
 self, his big hands bristled with joints and knuckles, 
 his legs seemed all knees and ankles. His skull was 
 sharply outlined, while his square jaw and Roman 
 nose completed the anatomical impression. 
 
 Scarcely glancing at Zach as he talked, he kept 
 his eye fixed on the weather-beaten old cap which 
 he smoothed on his knee. The brooding twilight of 
 the forecastle, emphasizing the heavy down-lines of 
 his face, gave him a saturnine expression, while the 
 peculiar drawl with which he ended certain words 
 had the vocal effect of a croak. 
 
 "You're a youngster, Bub, an' it may be all 
 right for you to bawl; but it 's a landlubber trick, 
 V I would n't do it ! " 
 
 "I don't bawl ! " said Zach angrily. 
 
 "Wall, I hope ye don't; it's no good; things go 
 right on jest the same, sloppin' up an' down like the 
 tide, ebb V flood, ebb V flood, V ye can't
 
 2G 7.ACHAEY PUIPS. 
 
 do nothin' to help it. When it gits so you can't 
 stan' any more, jes' take it out swearin' to your 
 self, or chawin' yer cud; yer too young for that yet, 
 mebbe, but ye '11 find out some day that chawin' 's 
 mighty easin' to the mind ! " 
 
 Zach, awaking at last to the fact that all this was 
 meant for sympathy, rolled over on his side and re- 
 garded the speaker with attention. 
 
 "But don't go flatterin' yerself, Bub, that things 
 is goin' to be better bimeby! They ain't; they 
 never will be ; they '11 'keep gittiu' harder 'n' heav- 
 ier 'n' tighter the hull livin' time. Ye '11 have all 
 ye can stan' up under, never fear; don't never ex- 
 pect nothin' else." 
 
 He stopped to cut a piece of tobacco from his plug 
 and put it into his mouth, where it made a big bidge 
 in his cheek. 
 
 "This livin' business," he went on presently, 
 squirting a mouthful of saliva at a knot in the floor 
 and wiping his mouth on the back of his hand, "is 
 a kind o' grin'stone 'thout no water on it; ye 're 
 kep' squeezed right down agin it all the time, an' it 
 jes' squinches the stuff right out o' ye, 'n' ther don't 
 seem to be no help for 't." 
 
 Notwithstanding his gloomy face, his drawl, and 
 his sombre talk, Zach derived unmistakable comfort 
 from his visitor; while the latter, without any as- 
 surance from Zach, understood equally well that he 
 was valued. These mutual impressions were not 
 conveyed by words, still less by looks, but were the 
 result of one of nature's mysterious little electrical 
 operations.
 
 ZACIIAKY PHIPS. 27 
 
 The acquaintanceship thus begun was not suffered 
 to languish ; it quickly ripened to intimacy, and Zach 
 presently discovered, not much to his surprise, that 
 his new friend, in addition to certain deep-rooted 
 prejudices against mankind in general, had a special 
 loathing for Sharky, whose tyrannous rule awoke 
 in him a rebellious spirit. Here was accordingly a 
 further and stronger bond of union. 
 
 "Look a-here, Bub," Sandy began one morning, 
 with a darkling look upwards towards the deck, 
 "d' ye know what he 's steerin' for? " 
 
 Zach shook his head. 
 
 "Well, he 's goiii' to ship ye back thar." 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 "To yer step-marm 'n' the schoolmaster." 
 
 "How do you know? " asked Zach, with a startled 
 look. 
 
 "'Cos he let it all out to the second mate last 
 night on deck. He 's goin' to keep his claw on ye 
 an' take ye back himself, in hopes to squeeze money 
 out o' yer old man for bringin' ye back," he con- 
 cluded in an impressive whisper. 
 
 Zach was so overwhelmed at thought of being the 
 object of this black plot that for several minutes he 
 could not speak. 
 
 "Now, see here, Bub," continued Sandy, cutting 
 up some tobacco for his pipe and grinding it between 
 his horny palms, "me 'n' you '11 jes' knock the plug 
 out o' that bung-hole." 
 
 "Yes," whispered Zach eagerly. 
 
 " Soon as we make land we '11 watch chances 
 an'"
 
 28 ZACHABY PUIPS. 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "Cut stick." 
 
 "Kunaway?" 
 
 "Yeah; I'm sick o' this. I'm shipped for the 
 round trip back to Bos'n agin, 'n' I shall lose my 
 pay, but what 's the odds! " 
 
 "Where shall we go to ? " asked Zach breathlessly. 
 
 "Wait 'n' see, Bub! Wait 'n' see! ther 's time 
 enough; but keep dark, mind ye! "waving the hand 
 which held his pipe warningly at his little hearer, 
 "dark as Egypt! Jes' lay right here; you 're lame, 
 ye know," with an impressive wink, "'n' as soon 
 as we make land," lowering his voice cautiously, 
 "we '11 show 'em a clean pair o' heels." 
 
 Overjoyed at this prospect of escape, Zach prom- 
 ised to do all that was required of him, and even ac- 
 quiesced in the hard condition that his friend should 
 pay him no more visits lest it should arouse suspi- 
 cion. Thenceforth, accordingly, Sandy only looked 
 in occasionally, with a nod or a word to let the boy 
 know that he was not forgotten. 
 
 At last the longed-for time came. Zach was 
 aroused one day by an unusual bustle on deck. 
 The sounds of hurrying feet and the rapid succes- 
 sion of oaths and orders told him that something 
 had happened. Straightway he flew into such a 
 state of excitement that he had much ado to keep 
 his bed. After an hour or more Sandy popped in 
 his head, and informed him in a loud whisper that 
 they were almost in ; that the ship was sailing up 
 the river, and would make dock before night. 
 
 "Now, Bub," concluded Sandy, with the nearest
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 29 
 
 approach to animation he had ever shown, "keep 
 yer eye peeled an' stan' from under, 'n' we '11 give 
 'em the slip the very first minit ! Keep dark, 'n' 
 I '11 pass ye the word ! " 
 
 The prospect of so soon being at liberty set Zach 
 in a quiver. He got up trembling like an aspen, 
 put on his clothes, and crept back to bed. It seemed 
 to him that he waited ages for Sandy to come. The 
 suspense was almost too much for his philosophy, 
 and he even had intermittent suspicions that his 
 friend had gone without him. 
 
 But as other things earthly come to an end, so 
 also did the voyage of the Susan Carter, and after 
 the bustle attending the docking of the vessel was 
 over, Sandy came creeping down to say that the 
 captain had gone ashore with his papers to report, 
 that the vessel was in charge of Sharky, and that it 
 was only a question of time when he would be too 
 drunk to know what took place. 
 
 With his teeth chattering from sheer excitement, 
 Zach sat perched upon the head of a cask in the 
 forecastle, waiting for the promised signal to go. At 
 last, hearing his name pronounced in a hoarse whis- 
 per, he groped his way up to the deck, where he 
 found his companion waiting. 
 
 "Mum! "muttered Sandy, casting a cautious look 
 about to make sure they were not observed. " Ready, 
 now, here we go! " 
 
 With these words he picked up the trembling boy, 
 and with one toss of his long arms landed him upon 
 the pier. Directly afterwards, he sprang ashore 
 himself, and the two slunk off in the darkness.
 
 30 ZACH AS Y PHIPS. 
 
 As they made their way up into the town and 
 wandered along through the strange, dimly-lighted 
 streets, Zach instinctively seized fast upon Sandy's 
 big hand and clung close to his side, as if the rough 
 sailor were the one friend left him now in all the 
 world. 
 
 "Look here, Bub, we got to load up somew'eres; 
 I 'm empty as a bar'l. See, there 's a place yonder 
 whar that red light is; le's turn in an' see wot they 
 got fer grub! " 
 
 Zach welcomed the suggestion, and thereupon they 
 went in. It proved to be a small inn of the rough- 
 and-ready sort usually to be found along the water- 
 front of a seaport town. The low-ceiled tap -room 
 was rilled with sailors drinking and smoking. Be- 
 hind the bar stood a stout, bullet-headed man in a 
 red flannel shirt, dealing out raw rum and brandy to 
 his thirsty customers. 
 
 In answer to Sandy's demand for something to 
 eat, he and Zach were shown to a small room down 
 the passage, where a slatternly maid-servant placed 
 before them some cold boiled beef, a brown loaf, and 
 a pitcher of cider. 
 
 Having both eaten their fill, Sandy lighted his 
 pipe and proceeded to explore his pockets for where- 
 withal to pay the scot. All told, his funds made a 
 scanty showing. He counted the greasy-looking 
 coins over and over, and shook his head gloomily. 
 
 "This can't go on, Bub; we've got to raise the 
 wind straight away, or we 're stranded." 
 
 Zach looked uneasy. Hitherto he had thought of 
 Sandy as a person of vast and indefinite resources.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 31 
 
 "It '11 be the soft side of a plank to-night, young 
 un, and a tight squeeze for breakfast. After that 
 there 's nothin' but fool-luck 'twixt us an' the 
 bottom." 
 
 "The bottom of what?" asked Zach, much star- 
 tled. 
 
 "EverythinV 
 
 "Goin' to sleep outdoors? " 
 
 "Yeah; an' the sooner we git out the better, for 
 some o' our old gang '11 be turnin' up here." 
 
 Whereupon, closely followed by Zach, Sandy 
 pulled his hat over his eyes, stalked into the tap- 
 room, paid his lawing, and lounged carelessly out 
 into the street. 
 
 The weather had changed for the worse, clouds 
 covered the sky, and a piercing wind blew up from 
 the river. 
 
 "Seen better nights 'nthis fercampin' out, Bub," 
 grumbled the sailor. 
 
 But Zach was too cold and tired and sleepy for 
 any criticism upon the weather, as he trudged along 
 after his tall companion in a homesick plight. 
 
 The sailor made his way down to the water-side, 
 and in and out among the docks, glancing hither and 
 thither with a watchful eye. Presently he stopped 
 upon a pier piled with merchandise, saying, 
 
 "Here we be, Bub; here 's our chance. *T ain't 
 feathers, nor straw, but it 's the next best thing, 
 see? Cotton-bales, soft as down 'n' warm as sun- 
 shine. Stand stiff, now, 'n' I '11 give ye a boost." 
 
 Suiting the action to the word, he hoisted the 
 sleepy Zach up to the top of the pile.
 
 32 ZACHABY FHIPS. 
 
 "Now, young un," he continued, as he came 
 climbing up after him, "keep to the leeward! the 
 leeward, mind, out o' the teeth o' this nor'easter! 
 Here ye be ; creep down there ! " 
 
 Having found a nook sheltered from the wind, the 
 two stowed themselves snugly away and were soon 
 sound asleep. 
 
 Next morning Zach awoke with a shiver, to find 
 that Nature had played the part of his valet. A 
 cold, drizzling rain was falling, and his face and 
 hands were already washed. Worse than that, his 
 clothes were almost drenched, and he had no change 
 of garments at hand. Looking at Sandy, who lay 
 still soundly sleeping, he hesitated whether to wake 
 him, but the sight of his wet clothes settled the 
 question. 
 
 Sandy, on being aroused, lost no time in yawning 
 and stretching under such circumstances, but, jump- 
 ing up at once, cried, 
 
 "Come on, Bub, le's git out o' this! Cuss the 
 weather! Jest my luck, this is. Come on! Le's 
 board that old hulk agin, an' git dried out. Hope 
 ye ain't hungry?" 
 
 "No er, n-not real! " 
 
 " 'Cos it '11 hev to be short pickin's this mornin'," 
 fumbling in his pockets. "A bite an' a swaller, to 
 keep yer stomach from squeezin' in." 
 
 Zach looked so dismayed at this news that Sandy 
 added as a word of comfort, 
 
 "But you keep a taut upper lip, young un! 
 We '11 raise the wind to-day; we 've got to raise it, 
 that's the Dutch of it!"
 
 Z AGHAST PHIPS. 33 
 
 They went shivering and dripping back to the 
 little inn. It had not yet been put in trim for 
 the day. Everything looked cold and dirty and 
 neglected, the tables covered with soiled glasses, 
 the sanded floor with discarded tobacco quids, 
 broken pipes, and other refuse, the bar with empty 
 bottles. The slatternly maid, heavy-eyed from her 
 broken rest, was sweeping out; the bullet-headed 
 tapster was sunk in a sodden sleep behind the coun- 
 ter, all unconscious of a blear-eyed lounger waiting 
 for his morning dram. 
 
 It was not a cheering prospect, but the guests 
 were little inclined to be captious. Accordingly, 
 having waited patiently until the disheveled maid 
 had swept the room, freshly sanded the floor, and 
 set the furniture in order, Sandy approached her on 
 the subject of food. 
 
 "Breakfast ain't ready," she answered curtly. 
 
 "'Breakfast'! Oh, well er we ain't per- 
 tickler what ye call, it; it's vittles we want; a 
 chunk o' bread 'n' a gulp o' hot drink '11 serve our 
 turn." 
 
 "Git in there, then, 'n' I'll see!" was the un- 
 gracious answer. 
 
 Following the direction of the maid's broomstick, 
 the two went into the eating-room, where they were 
 presently served with a stale loaf and some muddy 
 coffee. 
 
 After eating the last crumb and drinking the last 
 drop of this scanty provision, they were still far 
 from satisfied, but having no other resource, went 
 back to the tap-room and disconsolately sat down in
 
 34 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 their wet clothes. Sandy filled his pipe, and re- 
 viewed the situation with a morose air, while Zach 
 awaited in silence the result of his deliberation. 
 
 "This is a tough world, Bub!" broke out the 
 sailor, after a little. 
 
 Accepting this as a profound and original reflec- 
 tion, Zach looked impressed. 
 
 "A tough world! There's things enough an' 
 chances enough in it, only somehow they don't seem 
 to fall to the folks that need 'em ! There 's nothin' 
 lyin' round loose; everythin' belongs to somebody. 
 The question is, how 'd they git it? What I want 
 to know is, how did all these folks git these things? " 
 
 Zach shook his head helplessly. 
 
 "Hanged if it don't seem 's 'f everythm' hed 
 been parceled out 'fore I was born." 
 
 "Was you always a sailor?" asked Zach sud- 
 denly. 
 
 "No, Bub. I was born down on the coast o' 
 Maine, an' I was brought up a fisherman, 'n' if I 'd 
 stuck to it, I would n't 'a' been in this pickle. But 
 here we be, 'n' we got to face the music. I never 
 done no starvin' yet, 'n' I ain't goin' to begin now, 
 I can tell 'em that! " he concluded, with a wave of 
 his pipe, as if in warning to a hostile world. 
 
 Meanwhile the tap-room was gradually filling with 
 its regular frequenters : sailors waiting to be shipped, 
 superserviceable old salts come to discuss the water- 
 gossip, and the lower class of case-hardened topers. 
 
 To these entered presently a man not to bo classed 
 in either category, with regard to whom, however, 
 two things were at once evident, to wit : first, that
 
 ZACIIABY PUIPS. 35 
 
 he was superior in education and breeding to any- 
 body else in the room, and, second, that he had 
 come to the inn with a purpose more serious than 
 to drink bad liquor and smoke villainous tobacco. 
 For the rest, he was a middle-aged man, with a red 
 face, long blonde hair, big, staring blue eyes, and 
 divers peculiarities of feature and bearing which 
 proclaimed his foreign birth. 
 
 Although his eyes wandered ceaselessly over the 
 room in earnest observation of its inmates, he seemed 
 not to have remarked Zach and Sandy in their dark 
 corner until chance suddenly brought them into 
 prominence. 
 
 A brawl arose among some sailors at a table next 
 to them. Nobody concerned themselves at first in 
 such an every-day matter. Very soon, however, 
 after a babel of altercation, the parties came to 
 blows. Thereupon one of them, a swarthy Portu- 
 guese, with an unsaintly visage adorned by dan- 
 gling earrings, was seen to draw a knife. Rising 
 quietly from his dark corner, Sandy interfered, 
 seized the sailor, wrenched the knife from his grasp, 
 and sent him sprawling among the spittoons and 
 chair legs on the floor. Rising with a furious look, 
 the Portuguese was about to rush upon his aggres- 
 sor, but, deterred by Sandy's cool look and formi- 
 dable thews, he paused, picked up his knife, and, 
 with a torrent of threats in choice Portuguese, slunk 
 out of the room. 
 
 Whereupon, resuming his seat, Sandy lighted his 
 pipe and dismissed the matter from his thoughts. 
 Not so the stranger. Fixing his eyes upon the sailor
 
 36 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 with a quite peculiar interest, he directly began to 
 scrape an acquaintance. 
 
 "Dis storm, dink you it vill last, mine fren'?" 
 he asked, in a strong German accent. 
 
 "Mebbe 't will, an' mebbe 't won't," answered 
 Sandy, stifling a yawn. "Can't tell nothin' 'bout 
 the weather away from the sea." 
 
 "How blows de vind? " 
 
 "Wind?" answered Sandy contemptuously, 
 "ther ain't any wind. These 'ere land puffs an' 
 flukes don't count." 
 
 "Also 'tis easy to see you are a sailor." 
 
 "I be when I git a chance." 
 
 "Say you so? You 'ave den no vork? " 
 
 "No," said Sandy, knocking the ashes out of his 
 pipe and ruefully cutting up the heel of his plug for 
 a last charge. "I 'm lookin' for a job, ef ye want 
 the truth, cap'n." 
 
 "Ha, den, see you? You shall look no more. 
 You shall come vith me." 
 
 "How long a cruise? " 
 
 "Hm m m, veil, I tell you now," lowering his 
 voice, " 't is not on de sea ve go! " 
 
 Sandy began to shake his head. 
 
 "Not right away; ve come to it by 'n' by, see 
 you ? But first ve go by de land, den upon de grand 
 rivers all de same vith de sea." 
 
 Sandy continued to shake his head; the stranger 
 affected not to heed him. 
 
 "Listen, my fren', dis ees a great eggsbedition. 
 You 'ave never such vork before, you 'ave never 
 such money, such grog, such ration; an' after all 
 dose, some oder dings may be at de end."
 
 ZACIIARY PHIPS. 37 
 
 These promises appealed forcibly to Sandy's 
 empty pocket and fasting stomach. Glancing at 
 Zach's anxious face, a new thought struck him. 
 
 "Look a-here, cap'n! " he said, tipping back his 
 chair and thrusting his huge hands to the bottom of 
 his empty pockets. "I 'm dubious 'bout this busi- 
 ness. I ain't no landlubber, an' I 'm too old a bird 
 to teach new tricks ; but ef I say go, that means the 
 young un, too ! " 
 
 The stranger turned a depreciating look upon 
 Zach, and his face fell. 
 
 "Bah, no, no ! he ees too young for such dings." 
 
 "It 's no go 'thout him," repeated Sandy firmly. 
 
 Much vexed, the stranger studied Zach again, 
 and with a more critical air. 
 
 "It ees your son, dis one?" 
 
 "No." " 
 
 "No? Vy, den, must he go? 'T ees better leave 
 him pehint. Ve find some gut place, see you? an " 
 
 "No use, cap'n," broke in Sandy in a definitive 
 tone. 
 
 Seeing that further discussion was useless, the 
 stranger tapped on the table and whistled to hide 
 his discomfiture. Sandy got up and stretched, as if 
 weary of the discussion. Perhaps it was the sight 
 of his bulk and brawn which decided the stranger, 
 for he suddenly exclaimed : 
 
 "Veil, veil, if he go, so must you dake on your- 
 self de consequence. It ees a pargain, den, hein? 
 Gut ! Come to meet me to-morrow so early as you 
 can at Bingham's ; de inn, de davern, see you? 
 Ask for Bollman, Dr. Eria Bollman, unt ve 
 dalk pout dot eggsbeditijii! "
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 DULY next morning Sandy and Zach set forth to 
 keep their appointment. "Bingham's" turned out 
 to be a well-known tavern, and they found it without 
 trouble. Hardly had they entered the tap-room and 
 looked about, when they saw their friend of the 
 day before talking with a stranger in a neighboring 
 corner. Noting their entrance, he beckoned them 
 to come forward, and whispered aside to his com- 
 panion. 
 
 The stranger, a tall, lean man with an air of 
 authority, glanced carelessly from Sandy to Zach 
 and asked sharply, 
 
 "Your child?" 
 
 "Well, no," answered Sandy, looking hard at a 
 spot on the wall, and controlling his resentment of 
 the stranger's manner; "he ain't nobody's child to 
 speak of." 
 
 "What 'she doing here?" 
 
 "Dunno; guess ye 'd better ask him." 
 
 The stranger turned with an impatient look to 
 his companion, who whispered something in his ear. 
 The explanation, however, proved unsatisfactory, 
 for it was met with prompt and emphatic objections. 
 Finding his colleague intractable, the German next 
 led Sandy aside. Instantly Zach took alarm. He 
 knew well enough what they were talking about.
 
 ZACHAEY PIIIPS. 39 
 
 He watched them with anxious interest until he saw 
 Sandy shake his head, then he drew a long breath. 
 He was reassured. Sandy would not forsake him ; 
 the German might talk until doomsday. The 
 stranger, meanwhile, was losing patience ; he broke 
 in upon them irritably. 
 
 "Well, well, Doctor, I must go. Do as you 
 like I If he turns out a nuisance, you must take the 
 blame. But if they go, get 'em ready at once. 'T is 
 time we were off already. I leave all these matters 
 to you. You know the road. We shall overtake 
 you before noon." 
 
 " Ah-h-h ! " exclaimed Bollman, wiping his stream- 
 ing forehead on his coat-sleeve and emitting a sigh 
 of relief. " So, den, all ees right. You shall both 
 go. Now, my fren's, sit down ! Listen to me! I 
 dell you last night I eggsblain dis mornin' vere we 
 go, vat ve do, but you 'ave hear Colonel Dupeister," 
 pointing after the stranger; "dere ees no longer 
 time, also ve vait some oder day. But all ees right, 
 never fear! It ees a great ding, a gr-rand ding, 
 dees eggsbedition. Make all rich, you, me, de 
 boy, too, everybody, vith lands, an' slaves, an' 
 cattle; but," looking around suspiciously, "sh-h! it 
 ees yet a secret ; keep de mouth tight. I tell you 
 someding: ve 'ave for leader a great man. Talk 
 apout your Vashingtons, bah! dis ees de great 
 American of all. Veil, he go vith us, he lead us. 
 It ees for dat ve keep mum, see you? Go, now," 
 he continued, drawing out his purse and handing 
 Sandy some money, "get de clothes, unt de shoes, 
 unt oder dings, unt come avay back again like de
 
 40 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 vind ! Ve start yonder from de stable-yard in an 
 hour; seexty minutes. Ve 'ave a horse for you, 
 an' you vil take de boy on a pillion behint, see? " 
 
 Promising to be on hand, Sandy went rolling 
 away, with Zach on a half-run at his heels. Steer- 
 ing straight for the river-streets with true seafaring 
 instinct, he went first to a tobacconist and laid in a 
 goodly supply of plug. This prime necessity of life 
 secured, he next found out a cheap outfitting shop 
 for sailors, where he bought what was needed in the 
 way of clothes. There being a lack of infant sizes 
 in stock, it resulted that Zach's pea-jacket was much 
 too big for him. Little he cared, however, for so 
 small a matter. Beholding himself at last, attired 
 in true seaman's rig, his heart swelled well-nigh to 
 bursting, and vainglory blinded him to all shortcom- 
 ings. Straightway he discarded his apron and 
 strutted along after Sandy on their way to the inn, 
 quite oblivious of the oddity of his appearance. 
 
 Not so, as it proved, were the bystanders. Pass- 
 ing a group of boys playing in the street, the pair 
 were assailed by a jeering chorus. 
 
 "Hello, Bill, look a' that! " 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 "There, following the sailor-man!" 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "A monkey." 
 
 "A porpus." 
 
 "Say, mister, where 'dye ketch that there, thing 
 in the jacket?" 
 
 Unmoved by this buzzing of street flies, Sandy 
 stalked along, urging his companion to make haste.
 
 ZACH AS Y PHIPS. 41 
 
 Receiving no answer, he turned about. There, fa- 
 cing his jeerers in the narrow street, Zach stood at 
 bay. So much jacket and so little Jboy have rarely 
 been seen in combination. His belligerent attitude, 
 moreover, added to the situation a crowning comical 
 touch, which was fatal to all gravity. A roar of 
 laughter greeted his movement. The mirth was ex- 
 cusable, but short-lived. Glancing around the circle 
 and singling out the ringleader, Zach walked grimly 
 up to him and slapped his face. Needless to say, 
 there was a battle. Although his opponent was a 
 bigger boy, Zach for some minutes held his own. 
 Hampered, however, by his new toggery, he pres- 
 ently began to lose ground. Thereupon, Sandy 
 stepped forward and helped him off with his jacket, 
 saying: 
 
 "There you be, Bub; now go in an' lick him! " 
 Nothing loath, Zach rushed back to the fray ; but 
 at best it proved an unequal contest. The superior 
 strength and bottom of his adversary became mo- 
 mently more evident. One circumstance alone put 
 the issue in doubt : the way in which, after every 
 bout, Zach returned again and again to the struggle, 
 his face transfigured by the uncanny look of the 
 born fighter, a look none the less impressive that 
 it is distinctively brutal, proclaiming, as it does, 
 something within heroic or demonic, insensible to 
 fear, incapable of surrender; something which, with 
 ruthless ferocity, drives the worsted, maimed, mori- 
 bund body back to fight it out to the death. 
 
 Sandy, standing by without thought of interfer- 
 ence, heard a clock strike in a neighboring steeple.
 
 42 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 Directly he bethought him of the business in hand. 
 The sixty minutes had expired, and they were due 
 at Bingham's. Seizing Zach, therefore, without 
 ceremony, he dragged him away, saying : 
 
 "Come, Bub, you've had enough of that, I 
 reckon ! " 
 
 Such an indignity was not to be borne by flesh 
 and blood. Directly the young combatant turned 
 with all his remaining strength upon the intermed- 
 dler. The latter, however, nothing moved, went 
 striding on, holding the writhing, kicking, screaming 
 pigmy in his forceful grip. 
 
 Arrived at the inn, they found a half-dozen horses 
 standing saddled in the yard in charge of a couple 
 of negroes. Men were shouting, and hurrying to 
 and fro, and there was the usual bustle preliminary 
 to a journey. 
 
 Presently Bollman appeared, followed by several 
 sturdy fellows, with the air of frontiersmen, and the 
 preparations were soon complete. The order being 
 given to mount, the others sprang to their saddles, 
 and Sandy more clumsily climbed upon the big, raw- 
 boned beast allotted to him. 
 
 Zach, who on being released had thrown himself 
 on the muddy ground in sulks, gave no heed to these 
 preparations. Bollman luckily was too much pre- 
 occupied to note the trouble. Thus Sandy was left 
 to manage the matter himself, which he did with 
 absolute wisdom. 
 
 Taking no notice of the sulker until the signal 
 was given to start, he turned, as he slowly rode out 
 of the stable-yard at the tail of the little cavalcade, 
 and said, in an unconcerned drawl,
 
 ZACIIARY PUIPS. 43 
 
 " Good-by, Bub ; give my respects to your marm 
 'n' the schoolmaster ! " 
 
 These tactics availed, for hardly had they gone a 
 dozen rods when the repentant youngster came run- 
 ning after them, shouting at the top of his voice, 
 
 "Stop! stop! Wait for me! Take me! I want 
 to go. I will go-o-o! " 
 
 Sandy, lagging purposely in the rear, allowed 
 himself to be overtaken. 
 
 "So ye think ye 'd ruther go, eh?" 
 
 "Yeah," sulkily. 
 
 Without a word of admonition or upbraiding, the 
 sailor reached down, and clutching the little penitent 
 by the collar, lifted him like a feather into the pil- 
 lion, where for a full hour he rode in shamefaced 
 silence. Meantime, Sandy was busy taking note of 
 his companions, and speculating as to the object of 
 their journey. 
 
 "Queer sort of cruise, this is," he muttered to 
 Zach. "Blowed 'f I can make it out, Bub. It 
 has a kind o' privateerin' look. Them scalpers," 
 nodding towards the frontiersmen, "look like Injun 
 fighters. I never seen no Injuns, but I seen pirates 
 enough, 'n' the' ain't no great difference, I reckon. 
 They 're a murderin' lot, all on 'em. Where 's the 
 rest of 'em, I wonder? This ain't the whole crew. 
 An' this big gun, they talk about, where 's he? 
 An' this place where the land an' the slaves an' the 
 cattle be, well, Bub, we hain't seen every thin' 
 we 're goin' to see on this cruise, yet. Never mind," 
 pushing down the hot ashes in his pipe with a cal- 
 loused forefinger, "never mind, I say; we 're in
 
 44 ZACHARY PHIP8. 
 
 for it now, 'n' we 've got to take our chances. You 
 jes' stick close to me, keep your ears cocked, 'n' 
 say nothin'. It may be all right, but 1 don't like 
 this turning away from salt water." 
 
 Moved by these ominous words, Zach began the 
 journey with an ill.-grounded feeling of distrust to- 
 wards his traveling companions, together with cer- 
 tain undefined misgivings as to the end and aim of 
 their mission. 
 
 As the road was none of the best, and they were 
 indifferently mounted, their pace was necessarily 
 slow, but quite fast enough, be it said, for Sandy 
 and Zach, neither of them experienced horsemen. 
 The frontiersmen rode side by side without exchan- 
 ging a word. The negroes kept up an idle chatter 
 between themselves, while Bollman, in a state of 
 chronic perspiration, rode up and down the line, 
 scanning the looks and equipment of his party with 
 the eye of one responsible for the success of the 
 expedition. 
 
 About noon, coming to a suitable place upon the 
 roadside, he called a halt, and gave orders for din- 
 ner. All dismounted and took a hand in the prep- 
 arations. Even Zach, at a hint from Sandy, made 
 himself useful by bringing water from a spring 
 hard by. 
 
 When dinner was over, Bollman, seeking out his 
 new recruits, confirmed Zach's darkest forebodings 
 by giving Sandy a pistol and a dirk to wear in his 
 belt, saying significantly, 
 
 "Tis gut to haf dose. One knows never vat 
 comes in de vilderness ! "
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 45 
 
 The unconcerned look with which Sandy took the 
 weapons, examined them, and stuck them in his belt, 
 was not lost on Bollman, who walked away with a 
 reassured air. 
 
 Presently an exclamation from one of the negroes 
 drew attention. He stood in the road, pointing 
 towards the town. All looked, but saw nothing. 
 The sound of horses' feet, however, could be dis- 
 tinctly heard. Bollman waited in a fever of anxiety 
 until the riders appeared around a bend in the road, 
 when at once his face cleared, and he stepped for- 
 ward with a welcoming smile. " Well, I '11 be 
 drawed an' quartered," muttered Sandy, studying 
 the party with squinted eyes. 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "There 's a petticoat among 'em ! " 
 
 Without finding any significance in Sandy's dis- 
 covery, Zach examined the small party which came 
 galloping towards them, with boyish interest. Colo- 
 nel Dupeister rode in front, and seemed the leader 
 and spokesman. A couple of attendants brought 
 up the rear. Between these two detachments, as 
 between a van and rear guard, rode a couple of 
 whom one wore the petticoats which Sandy had de- 
 scried. Although the woman's face was closely 
 veiled, Zach received, from her general bearing, an 
 impression of youth and distinction. Withal his 
 curiosity was so much excited that he failed to no- 
 tice her companion, and only remembered him after 
 wards as a small, silent man wearing a slouch hat. 
 
 Meanwhile Sandy, who had been quietly studying 
 the group, muttered aside, to Zach,
 
 46 ZACIIARY PHIPS. 
 
 "This ain't no Injun business, Bub." 
 
 "Eh, why? What makes you think so?" asked 
 Zach, in a tone of evident disappointment. 
 
 "You see these grandees? Well, they're mixed 
 up in it some way. They 're bound for the same 
 port we be. No, 't ain't Injuns, but I 'm hanged 
 'f I know wot else it is." 
 
 Further speculation was cut short by the move- 
 ments of the party. Dupeister seemed to be taking 
 leave; to some inaudible question of Bollman, he 
 answered, as he turned away, 
 
 "If you don't come up with us this side of Pitts- 
 burgh, we shall meet on the boat." 
 
 "The boat," Zach repeated, as he watched the 
 little party gallop away until they were lost to sight 
 in the windings of the road. "Shall we go in a 
 boat, Sandy?" 
 
 "Lord knows, young un." 
 
 "Where is the water? Where can they put a 
 boat out here in the woods?" 
 
 "In one o' them little ditches they call rivers, I 
 reckon." 
 
 This talk was interrupted by the order to move, 
 and they presently started on in the wake of their 
 leaders. Nothing eventful marked their slow prog- 
 ress westward, yet day by day, as they fared along 
 through the virgin forests, across the broad Susque- 
 hannah, and threaded the mountain pass beyond, 
 a store of new impressions were made on Zach's re- 
 ceptive mind. Neither long nor wearisome to him 
 seemed the three weeks' pilgrimage which brought 
 them at last to the little frontier town of Pittsburgh.
 
 ZA CHAR Y PIIIPS. 47 
 
 The travelers looked about with natural curiosity as 
 they entered the place. Zach dissembled with diffi- 
 culty his great disappointment upon finding that the 
 inhabitants were not Indians, while Sandy, viewing 
 with unconcealed disgust the little shops, the mean 
 houses, the muddy street thronged with dirty chil- 
 dren and roving hogs, asked what could be expected 
 of a place five hundred miles from the sea. 
 
 The river, when they came to it, proved a source 
 of even greater chagrin. Although broad and deep, 
 its turbid current, to a Boston boy, could not for a 
 moment be compared with the clear and winding 
 Charles, while Sandy would not allow that it was 
 even composed of the same element as the sea. 
 
 Among the fleet of river-craft floating in the 
 stream, the Doctor soon picked out the one belong- 
 ing to his own party, and made a private signal for 
 her to approach. Sandy stared with amazement at 
 the strange structure, as she neared the levee, and 
 having critically surveyed her from stem to stern, 
 regardless of the presence of his companions, he 
 broke into a loud guffaw. 
 
 "A boat!" he cried, "that thing a boat! 'T is 
 nothin' but an old cider-mill on a raft. A boat! " 
 he repeated, almost choking with unexpressed con- 
 tempt. "Wall, .it 's the Devil's turn next." 
 
 Well might the odd structure before them have 
 excited the contempt of a sailor. In point of fact it 
 was not a boat, but an ark, or big floating house, 
 fitted up with rooms for eating, sleeping, and cook- 
 ing, all covered by a roof which served at need as 
 a promenade deck. Its most striking peculiarity,
 
 48 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 however, and one which completed Sandy's amaze- 
 ment, was the entire absence of any propelling ap- 
 paratus, neither oars, paddles, nor sails were to 
 be seen on the Bouncing Bet. Upon inquiry he 
 learned that craft of this sort were designed simply 
 to float with the current, and were kept clear of 
 snags and sandbanks by poling. His scorn of such 
 navigation was so extreme that it was with much 
 difficulty he could be induced to embark. 
 
 There was a delay of a whole day at Pittsburgh 
 to give Bollman time to sell his horses and lay in 
 a stock of provisions. Their crew, moreover, was 
 reinforced by a squad of negroes, skilled in river 
 navigation, concerning whom Sandy whispered to 
 Zach the startling .suggestion that the Doctor had 
 "mos' likely traded off the hosses for the niggers." 
 
 They found the vanguard of the party already 
 comfortably established on the ark, the same 
 five they had seen on the highway. The "Great 
 Unknown " had evidently not yet joined them, for 
 Colonel Dupeister still acted as leader. 
 
 At first there was a good deal of confusion, but 
 directly they were under way, the Colonel set about 
 a thorough organization of the expedition, in which 
 he showed much cleverness. He made a roster of 
 the men, inquired into their qualifications, and as- 
 signed them to duty accordingly. As before, his 
 brows contracted when he came to Zach. 
 
 In the distribution of offices, the conduct of the 
 ark was given to Sandy, and the negroes were al- 
 lotted him for a crew. The new skipper was not 
 elated at his charge, but it was remarked that the
 
 Z AC 'II ART PHIPS. 49 
 
 bitterness of his prejudice against the Bouncing Bet 
 somewhat abated when on the second day she devel- 
 oped a speed of eight miles an hour. And his feel- 
 ing was changed to positive respect after one or two 
 narrow escapes from snags and sandbanks, when it 
 required all his own strength and agility, supple- 
 mented by the skill of an experienced crew, to bring 
 them safely through. Henceforth, in his flings at 
 the world, at mankind, and at life in general, the 
 Bouncing Bet came off scathless. 
 
 On taking command the new skipper intimated to 
 Zach, with an air of great earnestness and gravity, 
 that he was to be worked in as mate. Forthwith 
 the puny youngster swelled in imagination to the 
 dimensions of the redoubtable Sharky. The duties 
 of his office, however, as defined by Sandy, proved 
 so light that there was left much spare time in which 
 to observe his fellow-travelers. Very interesting 
 they proved, too, that little group of cabin passen- 
 gers, so unlike anybody he had ever known. As'it 
 turned out, moreover, he could watch them quite at 
 his ease, for they were too busy to heed him. In- 
 deed, he could by no means understand why they 
 were so busy; morning, noon, and night they 
 seemed ceaselessly at work copying papers, studying 
 maps, writing dispatches, consulting and whisper- 
 ing apart. In their preoccupation they took little 
 note of their surroundings, save as now and then 
 the lady challenged their attention to some bit of 
 scenery. Meanwhile, it was the lady herself who 
 chiefly drew Zach's attention. Whenever she ap- 
 peared on deck, he stared at her with might and
 
 50 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 main, and for his infatuation in regard to her gave 
 the following rather lame account to Sandy. 
 
 "'T ain't 'cos she 's so handsome, she 's hand- 
 some enough, though, it 's the way she acts." 
 
 "Humph!" 
 
 "An' when she talks, you want her to keep goin' 
 right on." 
 
 "Got the gift o' gab, I suppose." 
 
 "An' then the way she says her words " 
 
 "Kind o' slip right out," suggested Sandy. 
 
 "Yeah." 
 
 "Yeah. I see one o' that kind once." 
 
 Withal Zach could not understand how the Colo- 
 nel and the Doctor could neglect so charming a per- 
 son, and spend all their time talking with the silent 
 little man in the slouch hat. 
 
 In this Sandy agreed with him, and they were 
 puzzling over it one evening after their fashion, when 
 something happened, which threw an unexpected 
 light upon the matter. 
 
 It was just after sunset. The boat was gliding 
 smoothly down a long, straight stretch in the river, 
 and the skipper and mate sat a little apart on the 
 forward deck smoking their pipes, yes, it must 
 with reluctance be confessed that Zach had become 
 a confirmed smoker. Having appropriated an old 
 clay pipe of Sandy's, he had persevered through 
 more than one violent attack of nausea, until now he 
 puffed the rankest plug with the aplomb of a vet- 
 eran. Sandy, considering it a proper and natural 
 step in his development, looked on without protest. 
 To them thus sitting, Dr. Bollman came forward for
 
 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 51 
 
 a word with Sandy. He stopped aghast at sight of 
 Zach puffing his old pipe. 
 
 "Bah-h-h! Vot you do here? Who teach you 
 dricks like dot, hein? Let me never again catch 
 you at dot, or ve send you home to de mudder to be 
 spanked!" saying which, he plucked the pipe from 
 Zach's lips and tossed it into the river. 
 
 Unfortunately, the Doctor himself was an invet- 
 erate smoker. He was, indeed, rarely seen without 
 his huge meerschaum in his mouth. Knowing this, 
 and also knowing the place where the pipe was kept 
 when not in use, Zach took an instant and signal 
 revenge. Springing to his feet he hurried aft, 
 seized from its shelf the precious meerschaum, held 
 it for an instant aloft in full view of its pursuing 
 owner, and then threw it far out into the turbid 
 stream. 
 
 His triumph was short-lived. The next moment 
 he was in the clutches of the incensed German, who, 
 after a thorough shaking, cuffing, and buffeting, 
 ended by hurling him violently to the floor. 
 
 There was a murmur among the lookers-on, who 
 doubtless thought the boy's bones must be broken. 
 Great, therefore, was their amazement to see him 
 jump instantly to his feet, rush upon his sturdy an- 
 tagonist, kick him viciously in the shins, and bite 
 his arm like an enraged beast, uttering all the time 
 a volley of oaths which would have done credit to 
 a past master in profanity. The startled German, 
 gathering all his strength, again flung off his assail- 
 ant, and looked about as if for a weapon. 
 
 Zach, meanwhile, rising as before, was about to
 
 52 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 make another rush upon his aggressor, when he 
 suddenly stopped as if petrified. Before him, bare- 
 headed in the doorway, stood the little silent man. 
 The stranger did not speak; he made no move to 
 interfere; he only fixed upon the mutineer a pair 
 of glittering black eyes. Zach had never seen such 
 eyes, calm, penetrating, masterful in their star- 
 tling intelligence, Zach had never before stood in 
 a presence so imposing. He halted, therefore, 
 spell-bound and breathless. In the interval, Dr. 
 Bollman had time to take thought. He broke out 
 violently : 
 
 "Here! Vill you come here, I say!" he cried 
 to a couple of the crew standing by. "Take you 
 dis tarn biting leetle animal, unt flog him vith de 
 rope-end ! " 
 
 Zach, still under the influence of the overawing 
 stranger, was led away without resistance. He 
 scarcely heeded the preparations made for his pun- 
 ishment, until aroused by a growl from Sandy. 
 Still maintaining his lounging position on the deck, 
 the skipper said with a quiet drawl : 
 
 "I reckon ye 'd better not lick that boy ! " 
 
 The men looked over at the speaker. Nothing 
 could have been more peaceful than his tone, yet one 
 would have thought his hearers found in it some 
 ominous significance, for they hesitated and looked 
 blankly about, at a loss what to do. 
 
 In the moment's interval a conference had taken 
 place in the cabin, and presently came word that 
 the punishment was remitted. The silent little man 
 had evidently interfered !
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 53 
 
 Who, then, was the silent little man? They were 
 destined soon to know more about him. In fact, the 
 very next day, as Zach sat holding the tiller for 
 Sandy, who was splicing a rope near by, he saw the 
 wearer of the slouch hat appear on deck. After 
 taking one or two turns up and down by himself, he 
 stopped, and called out several times : 
 
 "Theodosia!" 
 
 A voice was heard answering from within, and 
 presently the lady appeared, whereupon the two 
 walked up and down a long time, earnestly talking. 
 Zach puzzled hopelessly over their demeanor, which 
 was cordial, familiar, even affectionate, and marked 
 furthermore, on the man's part, by a solicitude 
 shown in unconsidered trifles, almost paternal in its 
 gallantry. As, for instance, when the lady, touch- 
 ing by accident a coil of rope, soiled her hand, her 
 companion, as if dealing with a child, directly pulled 
 forth his handkerchief, wiped her hand, and threw 
 the handkerchief away. Zach followed the move- 
 ment of the fluttering bit of cambric. By chance, 
 instead of falling overboard, it was blown along the 
 deck to his feet. He picked it up idly. It was not 
 much soiled after all. Spreading it out on his knees 
 he saw a name in the corner, a name which he had 
 heard in men's mouths since he could remember, 
 a name, too, which was associated with something 
 great, but he knew not whether for good or evil. 
 In his bewilderment, he stretched it out toward 
 Sandy. 
 
 "What is it?" asked the skipper indifferently. 
 
 "'T is his name."
 
 54 ZACUAEY PHIPS. 
 
 "Whose? " 
 
 "His," pointing to the stranger, still pacing the 
 deck. 
 
 "Well, what is it?" 
 "Aaron Burr." 
 "The Devil!" 
 
 Next day the vessel made her first landing. 
 The sailing of the expedition seemed to be no secret 
 in the country at large, for there was a delegation, 
 a dozen men or more, waiting to welcome them. 
 They came on board the ark. Burr introduced 
 them to the lady, whom he called his daughter, and 
 ended by making them a speech. Small in stature 
 as he was, he somehow produced a grandiose effect, 
 with his calm, stately bearing, and his grand ca- 
 dences of voice. 
 
 Zach listened eagerly, but the wind blew the speech 
 away, so that only bits of it came to him. Among 
 these fragments two words, or rather names, so often 
 recurred that he learned them by heart: " Washita " 
 and "Blennerhassett." As to these he gathered 
 vaguely that one stood for an enchanted island, where 
 the expedition was to rendezvous and gather re- 
 cruits; and the other an El Dorado, where great 
 things were to be done and great promises fulfilled, 
 where all were to be made rich and famous, and 
 revel in unconditioned bliss. 
 
 All through the night that speech rang in the 
 boy's ears. In dreams he heard again that sound- 
 ing rhetoric and saw those gleaming eyes. To him, 
 henceforth, the expedition was invested with a new
 
 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 55 
 
 and dramatic interest, which centred in the person 
 and doings of the new leader. 
 
 Nor was Zach the only one bewitched by that 
 strange, magnetic personality. Hearts older and 
 wiser yielded to the spell. That very first speech, 
 indeed, brought not a few recruits, and the little 
 party swelled apace as it floated on. 
 
 All pretense of mystery, as it seemed, was laid 
 aside. There was instead a sudden assumption of 
 frankness. It was noised abroad that the late Vice- 
 President of the United States was making a tour 
 of the Western States. Naturally, attentions were 
 showered on him. Dinners and suppers and feast- 
 ings and interchange of courtesies took place wher- 
 ever they touched shore. On guarded occasions and 
 to special auditors there were other speeches, too, 
 through all of which resounded those magic words 
 "Washita" and " Blennerhassett. " 
 
 Again there were scraps of talk which the won- 
 dering mate could by no means make out, as when 
 stanch old Colonel Morgan, at Cannonsburgh, came, 
 escorting Burr and his friends back to the ark after 
 a supper -party. Zach, lying in the shadow of the 
 cabin, where he had fallen asleep while keeping 
 Sandy company on his watch, was awakened by 
 their voices. 
 
 " Growing, sir, ' ' said the Colonel. " We are grow- 
 ing like a prairie fire. This is to be the centre of 
 this country, and by and by we shall see Congress 
 sitting at Pittsburgh." 
 
 "Then it will be a Congress of your own, for in 
 less than five years you will be totally divided from 
 tli3 Atlantic States."
 
 56 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 "God forbid!" cried the old man, with unction. 
 "I hope such a thing will never happen in my day." 
 
 "It will, it must! What can you expect of this 
 shilly-shally administration? Without dignity, 
 without intelligence, without force," - it was Burr 
 who was speaking. "Why, with two hundred men, 
 I could drive Congress, with your President at its 
 head, into the Potomac." 
 
 "What, what, sir!" 
 
 "He is a poor old granny, and his Cabinet a 
 Dorcas society." 
 
 "The country would rally to his relief, granny 
 or no." 
 
 "Not a bit; it despises him and his goose-squad- 
 ron. 'Kally'? let it rally! With five hundred 
 men I could take New York city." 
 
 "I know nothing of New York, but I 'd defy you 
 to take our village with your five hundred men ! " 
 was the quick reply. 
 
 "Perhaps not." Burr forced a laugh. "'T is 
 different out here. But, Colonel, we won't keep 
 you waiting. Good-by ! For this night's welcome 
 I rest your hermit. But think of my words ! Changes 
 are coming. I shall not forget you. Good-by, 
 again! " 
 
 "That brood is to be mistrusted," Dupeister mut- 
 tered, continuing the conversation when he and Burr 
 got on board the ark. "We had better have held 
 our tongues." 
 
 "We can never get on, Colonel, by holding our 
 tongues." 
 
 "But we may set these wasps buzzing."
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 57 
 
 "Let them buzz!" 
 
 Long and fruitlessly Zach pondered over this mid- 
 night talk, and Sandy's sententious comment on it 
 only puzzled him the more. 
 
 "Th' ain't no Washita in that, Bub! " 
 
 But day by 4ay, now, they drew nearer to the 
 much-talked-of island. At Marietta, when almost 
 in sight of it, they were delayed by a local celebra- 
 tion. 
 
 Directly it was buzzed about that Aaron Burr had 
 arrived, a crowd came thronging to the levee, and 
 the authorities sent to invite him to take part in the 
 festivities. From his cordial acceptance, one might 
 have supposed he hailed the interruption as a plea- 
 sure. He went ashore and reviewed the militia. 
 The men stared at his knowledge of tactics. With 
 Theodosia, he attended the grand ball in the even- 
 ing. The women admired his grace, courtliness, 
 and high-bred gallantry. Coming home, he parted 
 with his escort in a gracious speech. Turning as 
 they withdrew, he said something in an undertone 
 to Dupeister. Zach did not catch the words, but 
 he long remembered and puzzled over the strange 
 smile on the speaker's face. 
 
 At early dawn they were again on their way. In 
 a couple of hours they arrived at the junction of the 
 Ohio and the Kanawha. There was a shout from 
 the lookout, and all went rushing forward. With 
 a flutter in his heart, Zach stood in the prow and 
 strained his eyes towards the long-expected Eden. 
 
 In the glory of midsummer it rose before them : a 
 long narrow island, standing midstream of the Ohio,
 
 58 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 crowned by some noble timber, and framed on either 
 hand by the thickly wooded shores of the river. New 
 wonders unfolded as they advanced. Endless care 
 and money had been expended to amend the wild 
 slovenliness of nature by the addition of some of the 
 fripperies of art : a garden gay wi*h flowers, a spa- 
 cious lawn adorned with shrubberies, a dwelling 
 grotesque rather than imposing, suggesting a mimic 
 basilicon in form, with its middle structure and semi- 
 circular wings connected by a corridor. 
 
 Approaching nearer, Burr gave orders to unfurl 
 the pennant and fire a salute. Directly the compli- 
 ment was returned from the island by a waving of 
 flags and an answering salvo. Zach's breath came 
 quick and short as they bore down for the landing, 
 and such was his agitation that he could not join in 
 the loud huzzahs which went up from the crew and 
 those on shore, when Aaron Burr, like a destroying 
 angel, leaped ashore on the enchanting island of the 
 Blennerhassetts.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ALL unconscious as the turtle in the market-place 
 bearing on his back the label "Soup To-morrow," 
 Harman Blennerhassett strode forward, that fair 
 summer evening, with a smile of welcome, to fold in 
 his arms the man come to work his destruction, 
 the parallel is effective not only as a rhetorical flour- 
 ish, but is warranted by divers sombre passages in 
 history. Of a tall, slender figure was this island 
 king, with stooping shoulders, a scholarly air, and 
 a certain aquiline stateliness of feature. An occa- 
 sional broad pronunciation of a vowel, and a br-r-r 
 among his consonants, bespoke his Irish birth, 
 while his grave courtesy of mien told of careful early 
 breeding. 
 
 Warned by the twofold salute of the approach of 
 his guests, he hastened to meet them at the landing. 
 Handing over their luggage to the slaves at his heels, 
 he politely offered his arm to Mrs. Alston, and thus, 
 with Burr upon his other side and Bollman and 
 Dupeister bringing up the rear, he led the way to 
 the house. 
 
 Arrived at the door, he paused. His guests were 
 quick to take the hint; with one accord they cried 
 out in admiration. It was indeed an outlook not to 
 be neglected. Before them, the lawn, dotted with 
 shrubbery, stretched away on every hand to the
 
 60 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 water. Beyond, the stream, widened by its confluent 
 branches, glowed with opaline reflections from the 
 sunset clouds. Farther away, at the junction of the 
 rivers, peeped from the thicket the little village of 
 Parkersburgh ; while nearer at hand the Virginia 
 shore took on a purple gloom against the violet splen- 
 dor of the sky. 
 
 The pause following the outburst of enthusiasm 
 from the new-comers was broken by the sound of 
 horses' feet. 
 
 "Ah," cried the host in a tone of relief, "here in 
 good time comes my better half, just as I was about 
 to make her excuses ! " 
 
 As he spoke, a horse dashing at full gallop around 
 the corner of the house was reined up with a vigor- 
 ous hand at the very door, and the next moment a 
 striking figure alighted with a bound in the midst of 
 the group. 
 
 Dressed in a scarlet riding-habit trimmed with 
 gold lace and a hat waving with ostrich plumes, she 
 for a moment startled her guests by the unexpected 
 brilliance of her attire. With a look, with a word, 
 however, she straightway subordinated all this finery 
 to its proper sphere, and irresistibly fixed attention 
 upon herself. 
 
 From many-voiced tradition and from the only 
 portrait known to exist of her, it seems that Marga- 
 ret Blennerhassett had a tall, supple figure, delicate 
 features, brilliant coloring, impulsive manners, and 
 the air of an enthusiast. On the whole, making due 
 allowance for overwrought descriptions, it is evident 
 that she was a woman of unusual attractions.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 61 
 
 Directly upon her advent the whole atmosphere 
 of the party changed. 
 
 "Ah, Colonel Burr," with both hands out- 
 stretched, "I am indeed glad to see you. This I 
 am sure is Mrs. Alston," shaking hands with The- 
 odosia. "Madam, you are long expected. Gen- 
 tlemen," bowing in answer to the introduction mur- 
 mured by Burr, "you are all most heartily welcome 
 to our poor house. I am rejoiced indeed to see you 
 arrived. 'T was most tiresome, was it not, ma'am, 
 the journey? I am sure you are quite worn out. 
 By the same token, as they say in the County Kerry 
 where my Blennerhassett was born, by the same 
 token, ma'am, I am going to carry you off straight- 
 way to your room without more ado ; the view will 
 wait. Blennerhassett, will you show the gentlemen 
 their quarters, the right wing, remember! Gen- 
 tlemen, a short toilet and small ceremony, I pray, for 
 supper is on the point of being served. Shall we 
 go, ma'am? Colonel, your most obedient! " 
 
 Thus admonished, the guests made their dress as 
 simple as the meal which followed proved informal. 
 Lack of ceremony, however, did not prevent it from 
 beinc: a veritable feast. The delicious food, after the 
 
 o * 
 
 sorry fare of the wilderness, was keenly relished, 
 while the cordiality of their welcome was irresisti- 
 ble. The last barriers of reserve natural among 
 strangers gave way before the impulsive attack of 
 the hostess, supported as it was by the graceful ease 
 and mental resource of her lady guest. 
 
 Naturally, the talk at table was the simple inter- 
 change of civilities proper to the occasion. It was
 
 62 ZACUABY PHIPS. 
 
 too early yet for business, for which, however, a 
 growing tone of fellowship, becoming in those era- 
 barked in a common cause, was fast ripening the 
 moment. 
 
 Burr, seated on the right hand of Mrs. Blenner- 
 hassett, showed himself a master in the art of saying 
 apt nothings, and deeply flattered the eloquent lady 
 by an attention which never lost a syllable that fell 
 from her lips. It was only when she turned to 
 bestow a word upon Bollman or Dupeister that he 
 took occasion to steal an inquiring glance at his 
 host, whose air of reserve rendered him a more 
 baffling subject for analysis than his outspoken 
 wife. As the event proved, no moment of opportu- 
 nity was lost by the watchful guest, during that first 
 tumultuous informal evening, for studying close at 
 hand the widely differing types of character of this 
 man and woman on whom the success or failure of 
 his undertaking so much depended. 
 
 Left to their wine, the men lost something of their 
 ease. The conversation so perceptibly languished 
 that Burr perforce had to come to the front. In- 
 deed, so soon as the need was apparent, he showed 
 no hesitation, but led the talk with the practiced 
 ease of a veteran tried in many fields of thought and 
 action, the bar, the camp, the rostrum, and the 
 senate. If he knew how to talk, however, he also, 
 as it appeared, knew when to forbear. There were 
 more serious objects in view than shining as a ta- 
 ble-talker. His host was still on guard. Having, 
 therefore, fairly opened the ball, he set the Doctor 
 astride his hobby and gave him the floor. The word
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 63 
 
 tyranny and its various synonyms were like so many 
 red rags to the German doctrinaire. Artfully shak- 
 ing one of these rags in the phrase "intellectual 
 oppression," Burr stepped aside. Breathing defi- 
 ance, the unsuspecting Doctor sprang into the field, 
 and held it against all comers to the end. Hap- 
 pily, it seemed to make no difference to him that 
 nobody heeded, understood his parallel between 
 Martin Luther and Descartes, or had ever heard of 
 "Wilhelm Meister," the book which he praised so 
 extravagantly as marking an epoch in literary free- 
 dom. Although Burr alone listened with an air of 
 attention, he made poor work of disguising a look of 
 relief when, at the end of a long period, Blenner- 
 hassett, rising, gave the signal to join the ladies. 
 
 The ladies, seated outside on the gallery, were 
 eagerly awaiting them. Directly a new interest was 
 infused into the conversation; for hardly were all 
 comfortably settled in their seats than, with charac- 
 teristic impulsiveness, the hostess broached the topic 
 uppermost in all their minds. 
 
 "Do tell us, sir," to Burr, seated at her side. 
 "We are dying to know. What are your plans? 
 Surely there need be no secrets here, for we are all 
 embarked in the same boat, but I see I am med- 
 dling. Blennerhassett is shaking his head." 
 
 "Do not regard him, ma'am! Such meddling 
 will always be most welcome." 
 
 "But I fear me he is right. 'T is already late. 
 You are tired. 'T was most stupid and ill-timed of 
 me. Come, I have a better idea already. Blenner- 
 hassett shall give you a squint at the stars. 'T is
 
 64 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 worth your while, too, I give you my word, for he 
 has the finest telescope in the country, which, to be 
 sure, is not saying so very much after all." 
 
 But Burr, glancing keenly from man to wife, 
 chose for some reason not to avail himself of the 
 proposed diversion. 
 
 "Pardon, madam, the stars are not like to run 
 away. Business first, the adage is musty. You 
 ask about my plans?" 
 
 "Since you are resolved to indulge me, yes. But 
 indeed, I feel quite like a child to be so precipitate. 
 You may see me blushing. However, since you are 
 listening in good earnest, you must know, sir, we 
 are as yet quite at sea. We know nothing at all 
 definite. We have only heard generally that there 
 is somewhere I declare to you I have n't the least 
 notion at what point of the compass this won- 
 drous El Dorado. That is all. At last accounts 
 nothing had been done, nothing decided upon." 
 
 "The reproach is just. The fault was my own. 
 Pardon me that I have been so remiss. I am happy 
 to say that latterly we have made great progress. 
 Now everything is decided on, and much has been 
 done. The Washita tract is secured ! " 
 
 " Pray you now, sir, spell me that name ! " 
 
 Burr gravely complied. 
 
 "The land is fairly bought, do you say?" asked 
 the host, in evident astonishment. 
 
 "Bought, "repeated Burr emphatically, "and part 
 of the money paid down ! " 
 
 "So!" muttered Blennerhassett, with a notice- 
 able change of tone; "then the whole matter as- 
 sumes at once a more practical look."
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 65 
 
 "By which I fear you have hitherto thought it 
 Utopian," said Theodosia, a little archly. 
 
 "Right, ma'am, and so he did," interjoined Mrs. 
 Blennerhassett, leaning across; "he has been as full 
 of doubts as an egg is of meat. But I beg you now 
 go on, sir," turning to Burr. "Give us some de- 
 scription of this place! 'Tis in the far wilderness, 
 they say." 
 
 "Far enough, never fear," laughed her husband. 
 
 " So much the better. Was not this a wilderness 
 when we came hither? and now 'tis a paradise." 
 
 "Ay," assented Blennerhassett, with a touch of 
 bitterness, "and the best part of our fortune went 
 to make the transformation." 
 
 "True," with a passing sigh; "but you must know 
 we were babes in the wood then, ma'am," turning 
 to Theodosia. 
 
 "And what wonder," broke in Dupeister. "You 
 have surrounded yourselves here with the luxury of 
 the Grand Turk." 
 
 "Which you will find, after tarrying here a bit, 
 comes not amiss," rejoined Blennerhassett. "I 
 cannot find we have a comfort too many." 
 
 "Ah, but such money squandered on senseless 
 trifles," whispered Mrs. Blennerhassett aside to The- 
 odosia, "and much of it my own fault, too, I con- 
 fess; but," aloud to Burr, "for this tract, sir, where 
 is it?" 
 
 " Bring forth your map, Bollman ! The Doctor, 
 ma'am, will show you. He is our cartologist. " 
 
 Thereupon, nothing loath, Doctor Bollman brought 
 forth a roll of maps and plans.
 
 66 ZACIIARY PI1IPS. 
 
 "First and foremost, what access have we to the 
 sea?" asked Blennerhassett, blinking in short- 
 sighted helplessness over the Doctor's shoulder at 
 the remote map. 
 
 "'Access'! noding better," cried Bollman en- 
 thusiastically. "Ve shmell almost de salt vater. 
 See ! Look for yourself s ! De Vashita empty into 
 de Red River, de Red empty into de Mississippee, 
 de Mississippee into de Golf." 
 
 "And the tract, the land, where is it? " 
 
 "Here, shust here, vere you see my finger! Four 
 hundert tousand acre. Plantations for all, unt so 
 many more as vill come, see? " 
 
 "And 'tis already ours?" asked Mrs. Blenner- 
 hassett in a breathless voice. 
 
 Burr turned his watchful eyes upon her with a 
 look of profound gratitude. Her tone was worth a 
 folio of argument. 
 
 "Ours, madam," he answered, with effective re- 
 serve; "the bargain is made and the earnest money 
 paid. A feature not to be overlooked in the mat- 
 ter," he continued, flashing a covert glance at his 
 skeptical host, "is our neighborhood to the great 
 market of New Orleans, and through that to the 
 Antilles, and so on to Europe and the world." 
 
 Blennerhassett bowed with a non-committal air. 
 
 "Success is but a matter of a few years," went 
 on Burr, quietly. 
 
 "Then gold, money reeches," broke in the Doc- 
 tor. 
 
 Burr submitted to the interruption with a look of 
 gratitude.
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 67 
 
 "We '11 found a city on the spot !" suggested 
 Dupeister. 
 
 "And call it Theodosia," added Mrs. Blenner- 
 hassett quickly. 
 
 Mrs. Alston smiled her thanks for this pretty 
 compliment, as with a wave of her hand she recalled 
 attention to the map. 
 
 The lesson in geography lasted all the evening, 
 Bollman's elocution being supplemented by occa- 
 sional statements from Burr, which although thrown 
 in, as it seemed, casually, never failed of effect. 
 With two such masters, the lesson proved deeply 
 interesting. Not even the dullest could fail to com- 
 prehend anything so clear. In the cross-fire of 
 questions and suggestions growing out of it, in the 
 formulation all about him of golden fancies, plans, 
 and hopes, it was noted that the host himself was 
 gradually drawn from his conservative standpoint to 
 a pitch of modified but appreciable zeal. 
 
 With a scarcely suppressed sigh of relief, Burr 
 rose from the table and bowed low over the hand of 
 his hostess as, with an impressive air, he bade her 
 good-night. The evening had not been lost. 
 
 Next day, the Doctor's first care was to attend to 
 the rank and file of the expedition. The negroes 
 were sent to find lodgings in the slave-quarters on 
 the island, while the white recruits were bestowed in 
 an outhouse hastily fitted up as a barrack for their 
 accommodation. Zach and Sandy, upon their own 
 solicitation, were left to take -charge of the boat.
 
 68 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 
 
 Nothing more to their liking could have been 
 devised. The ark had already begun to seem like 
 home. Moreover, having it all to themselves com- 
 pleted the charm; with little to do and plenty to 
 eat, with opportunity for rambles at will about the 
 island, liberty >> fish and swim in the river, there 
 seemed nothing wanting to their physical content. 
 Here, moreover, Zach seems finally to have shaken 
 off his dread of the pursuing wrath of Master Tile- 
 ston and Marm Dinely, and much it is to be feared 
 that no shadow of remorse on their account clouded 
 for an instant the serene conscience of the junior 
 officer of the Bouncing Bet. 
 
 In their comings and goings, however, the skip- 
 per and his little mate soon became aware of some 
 unusual movement on the island. They noted a 
 constant bustle about the mansion; they heard in- 
 explicable sounds by night which set the hounds 
 baying and awakened loud echoes among the neigh- 
 boring hills; they felt a stir in the very air. Not 
 the least notable of their observations was the fact 
 that Burr himself seemed ceaselessly on the wing. 
 Up and away before dawn, he was absent for days 
 at a time, returning covered with dust or splashed 
 with mud ; but for all the jaded lines in his face, 
 wearing always the same calm, triumphant look. 
 
 It fell to Zach once to row the great man over 
 from the mainland. Hearing the familiar signal in 
 Sandy's absence, he had hastened to fill his place. 
 As soon as the boat touched the shelving muddy 
 bank, the passenger leaped aboard and placed him- 
 self in the stern, without heeding who was at the
 
 ZACIIAEY PHIPS. 69 
 
 oars. Seated upright with folded arms, his trim, 
 military figure outlined against the evening sky, his 
 brilliant eyes gleaming through the gathering dusk, 
 he filled the wondering ferryman with such awe or 
 admiration that, forgetting his business, he heed- 
 lessly lost overboard one of his oars. Ashamed of 
 such clumsiness, he incontinently leaped after it, not 
 counting on the midstream force of the current. 
 
 Burr, aroused from his reverie, promptly came to 
 the rescue, and having picked up the floundering 
 ferryman and recovered the oar, himself rowed the 
 boat ashore. 
 
 The incident, slight as it was, proved memorable 
 to Zach for more reasons than one, for when they 
 had landed, the passenger, drawing a silver piece 
 from his pocket, gave it to the little blunderer, at 
 the same time carelessly asking his name. 
 
 Zach answered, blushing deeply. 
 
 The name seemed to awaken a remembrance. 
 Burr, about to go, turned and cast an inquiring 
 look at the speaker. 
 
 "What, are you the imp that threw away the 
 Doctor's pipe? " 
 
 "Yeah," faltered the abashed mate. 
 
 "Humph! Yes, I remember now," studying at- 
 tentively the downcast face. "So Zach 's your 
 name, is it? Well, Zach, you 're the kind of a boy 
 I like. Some day I shall have work for you! " 
 
 Meanwhile the fame of the expedition had been 
 noised abroad to such good effect that a steady 
 stream of recruits came pouring in. The barracks 
 had to be enlarged and others built. These new men
 
 70 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 were speedily equipped and exercised in military 
 tactics by Colonel Dupeister, and the whole island 
 resounded with preparation. 
 
 What with all this moving of men and things the 
 Bouncing Bet was naturally called into requisition. 
 Having been fitted with a pair of long sweeps or 
 oars, one day, as it happened, she was dispatched 
 to bring a load of supplies from Marietta. There 
 Zach, having been sent ashore to notify Blennerhas- 
 sett's agent of their arrival, presently came flying 
 back with some startling news, to wit, that fifteen 
 large batteaux, capable of carrying five hundred 
 men, were building in the neighboring ship-yard for 
 the Washita expedition. 
 
 "Wall!" said Sandy, suppressing any show of 
 surprise, "it's time they was doin' sunthin'. I'll 
 tell ye another thing, Bub. Them boxes the niggers 
 are wheelin' aboard of us now are full o' shootin' 
 irons for the same business." 
 
 "Guns?" 
 
 "Yeah." 
 
 " Is there goin to be shootin', Sandy? " asked Zach 
 breathlessly, the possibility of a serious intent in 
 all this military bustle just dawning on him. 
 
 "1 reckon ther is, Bub." 
 
 "Who be we goin' to fight? " 
 
 "Redskins, an' them cut-throat Mexicans, mos' 
 likely." 
 
 " P'raps they would n't touch us," suggested Zach, 
 with a boy's primitive logic. 
 
 "Wall, we'd touch them all the same," retorted 
 Sandy, with a belligerent chuckle. "They got to 
 be killed, V the quicker the better."
 
 ZACHARY PHI PS. 71 
 
 "But p'raps this is their own land, an' then we 
 hain't any right to it," objected Zach with juvenile 
 perversity. 
 
 "'Right ' ! Wot right have them snakes an' rep- 
 tyles got to land? " asked Sandy from a good ortho- 
 dox standpoint. "They ain't fit to hev it. They 
 don't know wot to do with it, 'n' the only way is to 
 kill 'em in the beginning an' save ourselves bother 
 in the end." 
 
 Zach studied the speaker's serene face, and pon- 
 dered long over this bloodthirsty doctrine. Planted 
 in a soil so receptive, what noxious after-growth of 
 action and sentiment may this seed not have engen- 
 dered ! 
 
 The news Zach brought proved well-founded and 
 significant. The old peaceful times for him and 
 Sandy were over. Thenceforward, as the ranks of 
 the expedition swelled, and the buzz of preparation 
 grew louder, the island became like a big swarming 
 beehive. In the increasing need for communica- 
 tion with the main land, Bouncing Bet was called 
 constantly into action and her officers kept busy. 
 When not navigating the ark, they were employed 
 on shore. In frequent errands hither and thither 
 about the island, they saw much to puzzle them 
 which nobody seemed able or willing to explain. 
 
 Perceptibly there brooded over all a portentous 
 air as of the onmoving of some great dramatic action. 
 Thought and effort were directed to one point. 
 Though so little seen, a calm, masterful, directing 
 hand was everywhere felt. To each one was assigned 
 his duty. Blennerhassett, seated at his desk from
 
 72 ZACHASY PHIPS. 
 
 morning till night, wrote articles for the newspapers 
 to stir up the people. Bollman collected arms and 
 stores. Dupeister drilled the men, while the hostess, 
 with tireless energy, seemed forever flying about, in- 
 citing, encouraging, and helping at every point. 
 
 Zach forgot his errands whenever she appeared. 
 She was a character quite new to his experience. He 
 stood aside and gaped in amazement to see her come 
 flying over the fields by the shortest cut, jumping 
 her horse over fences and ditches as she swept along. 
 It never occurred to him as possible that he might 
 make her acquaintance, and he was almost overpow- 
 ered when, one day, in going her rounds, she came 
 to make a personal inspection of the Bouncing Bet. 
 Turning to go, after an examination of the vessel, 
 she encountered the second officer. 
 
 "Mercy upon me! whose child is this? Where 
 did you come from, little boy?" 
 
 Zach was quite too much taken aback to speak. 
 
 "Where is your mother? " 
 
 "Ain't got any," he faintly faltered. 
 
 "Poor child ! But what are you doing here? " 
 
 "I 'm the mate." 
 
 "What does he mean? " with a glance at Sandy. 
 
 "Jes' wot he says, m'm; he's all the mate ther 
 is!" 
 
 "How came he here?" 
 
 "Shipped for the cruise along o' me." 
 
 "You 're his father, or " 
 
 "No m'm; nothin' to him at all." 
 
 " I never heard anything so extraordinary. Why," 
 turning to Zach, "you can't be ten years old yet! "
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 73 
 
 Zach shook his head. 
 
 "No older than my own Ilarman, and away from 
 your .home on this terrible er this perilous busi- 
 ness. What will become of you? " 
 
 "Never you fret 'bout him, m'm! He ain't 
 goin' to wilt or blow away. I fetched him along, 
 an' I '11 keep an eye on him! " 
 
 " Do ! do, my friend ! a constant eye. There may 
 be dangers in store for him for us all. And you, 
 dear child, if anything happens, if you are ever in 
 need of a friend, come to me! I, too, am going 
 on the expedition. Come to Margaret Blennerhas- 
 sett, and you shall find one!" and stooping, as she 
 spoke, she imprinted a warm, motherly kiss on the 
 sunburnt cheek of the astonished boy. 
 
 Zach started; he had never been kissed before, 
 and the caress affected him like an electric shock. 
 He turned and looked after the impulsive woman, 
 and not even the halo and the wild-goose wings of 
 the conventional angel could have invested her with 
 a more glorified atmosphere than that which, to 
 Zach's blurred vision, glowed about her as she 
 walked away. 
 
 Sandy did not leave him long to his medita- 
 tions. The skipper had a new distraction. On his 
 last trip up to the house, he had brought back a 
 newspaper which, they told him, contained one of 
 Blennerhassett's articles. Here, then, it would all 
 be explained ; here the mystery at last be made clear. 
 Coming forward with the paper in his hand, he 
 eagerly called on his mate to read it aloud. 
 
 Zach read the article mechanically, and repeated
 
 74 ZACHAEY mips. 
 
 parts of it more deliberately at Sandy's request. 
 Pondering the matter a long time over his pipe, the 
 skipper at last broke out : 
 
 "Washita! humph! Wall, now, that may do to 
 talk to folks out here, but it don't fool me a mite." 
 
 "Eh! " ejaculated the reader, awaking to the fact 
 that something startling had been said. 
 
 "Ef we 're on'y jes' goin' down there to take 
 possession of some land we bought, an' lick a few 
 redskins, wot do we want o' all these guns an' pow- 
 der, an' all this muster business? / don't see, 
 'less " Here he took out his pipe and squinted 
 at the toe of his boot. 
 
 "What? " asked Zach, now thoroughly aroused. 
 
 "Unless there 's a rat in the meal! " 
 
 " * A rat,' " repeated Zach, unacquainted with the 
 adage. "What do you mean, Sandy? " 
 
 The wondering, excited look in his listener's eyes 
 aroused Sandy's caution. He mused a minute, then 
 abruptly changed the subject. 
 
 "They say them boats up to Marietta are mos' 
 ready, Bub ! " 
 
 Directly Zach swallowed the bait. This was the 
 subject of all others in which he was most deeply 
 interested. 
 
 "Yes, "he cried eagerly. "An' I heard the Doc- 
 tor talkin' to Colonel Dupeister this mornin' 'bout 
 a lot more boats bein' built on another river." 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 "In Tennessee." 
 
 "Humph! an' all bound for this 'ere Washita," 
 interposed Sandy, with a strange intonation.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 75 
 
 "An' they say that 's what the what he is gone 
 off for." 
 
 "Wot?" 
 
 "To git men for 'em." 
 
 "Wher 'she gone?" 
 
 "The Doctor says he 's gone to see General Jack- 
 son." 
 
 The skipper sat bolt upright and whistled. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "Wot is it, young un? It 's this: if Old Hick- 
 ory gits a finger in this pie, he '11 make hell smoke ! " 
 
 As all the world now knows, Old Hickory did get 
 a finger in the pie, a most incautious, blundering 
 finger. Rumors came flying back to the island that 
 he was hand and glove with Burr, and that the 
 beauty and chivalry of the state vied with each other 
 in doing honor to their illustrious visitor in every 
 form of social homage. 
 
 What wonder that hearts swelled and hopes burned 
 high among his associates on the island! Strange 
 to say, amidst it all there came a lull in their prepa- 
 rations. For a few days all seemed at a standstill. 
 There was much whispering and buzzing up at the 
 mansion, and Mrs. Blennerhassett was seen to spend 
 a whole morning walking up and down among the 
 shrubbery in a retired part of the lawn, arguing, as 
 it seemed, and pleading with her husband, while 
 Bollman and Dupeister sat on the gallery anxiously 
 awaiting the result. 
 
 Whatever may have been the subject of their dis- 
 cussion, the result was that next day a lawyer was 
 sent for, and some merchants from Marietta, and
 
 7G ZACIIARY PHI PS. 
 
 papers were drawn up and signed, in which the lady 
 and her husband took part. 
 
 "It 's money money," said Sandy, coming home 
 after a visit to the mansion, with a dubious look. 
 "They 'd run out; they could n't go on, an' they 
 got the Square there to raise it on his land. They 
 say he 's signed away everythin', an' she too." 
 
 The event proved the shrewdness of Sandy's 
 guess. Next morning work was resumed, and prep- 
 arations pushed for getting the expedition speedily 
 under way. 
 
 Presently, however, a new spirit began to appear, 
 a spirit of caution and secrecy. There came a re- 
 port that the United States Government was becom- 
 ing suspicious, and purposed inquiring into the 
 object of the expedition. 
 
 Directly the leaders took alarm. They sent secret 
 orders for the batteaux, ready or not, to repair forth- 
 with to the island. The order came a day too late. 
 The batteaux had been already seized. Before the 
 islanders had recovered from the shock caused by 
 this blow, came the startling news that the President 
 had issued a proclamation against the Washita ex- 
 pedition, and that a squad of Virginia militia was 
 actually on its way to invade the island. 
 
 For a moment there was a panic, followed by the 
 prompt resolution to hurry their little army aboard 
 the few available boats and be off. 
 
 Night was already falling, and the darkness fa- 
 vored their purpose. Despite all haste, several hours 
 elapsed before the stores and men were duly em- 
 barked. At last all was in readiness. The Bonn-
 
 Z AC II ART PI1IPS. 11 
 
 cing Bet was to take the lead, and Sandy stood wait- 
 ing for orders. 
 
 But orders did not come. There was an inexpli- 
 cable delay. As precious time was flying, Zach was 
 posted off to the mansion to see what was the matter. 
 
 Finding the doors open, he walked in. Listening, 
 he heard a murmur of voices. Following the sound, 
 he made his way to the drawing-room, where he 
 came upon the whole party with their hats and cloaks 
 on. He delivered his message to deaf ears. He 
 repeated it without effect. Nobody heeded him. 
 The occupants of the room, one and all, were gath- 
 ered about the master of the house, who listened with 
 a dogged air to their excited entreaties. 
 
 " Why, why, give some reason for this change 
 of mind ! " cried one. 
 
 " 'T is a strange time to withdraw, now at the 
 eleventh hour! " urged another. 
 
 "Think," pleaded his wife, "if you desert, it 
 means destruction to the cause." 
 
 "Be it so," answered Blennerhassett sternly. 
 " Wife, we have been cheated and played upon. We 
 were fools to listen to that man. We have lost all, 
 everything. Ruin stares us in the face. This he 
 would lead us into is treason! " 
 
 " ' Treason ' ! " faltered Mrs. Blennerhassett. ' 
 
 " ' Dreason' ! " echoed Dr. Bollman contempts 
 ously, "vat, den, ees dreason? It ees to be a man, 
 to go vere you vill, to do vat you like, to deny to 
 bow de neck to dose fools yonder you call de gov- 
 ernment! Dreason! Bah-h! Vere, dell me, my 
 fren', vould be dees contree,' dis Ahmerica, if long
 
 78 ZACHAKY I'll IPS. 
 
 ago some ones dare not do dreason to de British 
 tyrant, hem?" 
 
 "To stop now is madness," Mrs. Blennerhassett 
 interposed; "now, when you are in very sight of 
 the goal. It is to prefer failure to success, defeat 
 to victory. Worse: it is to choose ruin. Yes, 
 ruin. We have embarked aD in this cause. We 
 cannot turn back. We have nothing to turn to. 
 We are bankrupt ! " 
 
 BlAmerhassett groaned. 
 
 "Harman, Harman," continued his wife, in a 
 fresh burst of enthusiasm, " think of me ! Think of 
 your children ! Up and away while time is left you ! 
 Leave this wilderness behind ! Away to a brighter 
 sky, to a more fertile soil ! Away to those vast pla- 
 teaux in that sunny land which await your plough- 
 share ! A land flowing with milk and honey, the 
 land of the citron and the vine, the land of gold, 
 the land of fortune and success ! On ! On, then ! 
 Why sit you here? On to the Imperial City, to 
 the metropolis of the dazzling empire of the new 
 world!" 
 
 The listener shook his head as before. 
 
 "Listen, Harman! " the speaker's eyes glowed 
 with excitement, her rich voice rose in wild and 
 thrilling modulations. "Listen, I say! Eight 
 years ago we left England, unknown adventurers. 
 Shall we remain unknown to the end of time ? No ! 
 no! and again, no! The time draws on when we 
 shall return in triumph, the proud representatives of 
 a great empire, half a continent filled with millions 
 of happy, devoted subjects ; and on your arm I, -
 
 ZACHARY PHI PS. 79 
 
 I, dearest, the sharer of your trial and privation, 
 shall be the witness and partner of your triumph ! " 
 
 A clock struck upon the mantelpiece. 
 
 "Hark! do you hear? Time is flying, precious 
 time, time never to be recalled ! Go, Harman ! 
 Go, my husband ! Wait not for me and the chil- 
 dren ! Leave us behind ! They dare not molest the 
 mother and her innocents. We shall follow, never 
 fear. We shall meet soon, very soon, where they 
 dare not pursue." 
 
 A noise was heard outside on the gallery. All 
 started. Blennerhassett rose to his feet. A slave 
 came rushing in to say that the soldiers were clam- 
 oring for orders. Zach, standing open - mouthed 
 near the door, remembered his forgotten errand. 
 Fearful that the Bouncing Bet might sail away and 
 leave him, he hurried back to the landing. 
 
 The group in the drawing-room slowly followed. 
 Folding a long cloak about her shoulders, half -lead- 
 ing, half-propelling her doubting husband, Mrs. 
 Blennerhassett took her way with the rest to the 
 river. 
 
 It was a lowering night. Deep snow covered the 
 ground. A piercing wind sweeping down the long 
 reaches of the river made the biting cold almost un- 
 bearable. The impatient soldiers had kindled a 
 bonfire on the shore. Some of the leading spirits 
 were gathered about it. Dupeister, Bollman, and 
 the Blennerhassetts joined the group for consultation. 
 Standing thus, their forms projected against the 
 bright firelight cast long, spectral shadows over the 
 untrodden snow of the lawn. Another shadow, un-
 
 80 z A CHARY mips. 
 
 expected and unwelcome, presently joined the group, 
 a shadow which emerged without warning from 
 the outer darkness, and laying hands on one of 
 their number, cried : 
 
 "I arrest you, Harman Blennerhassett, in the 
 name and by the authority of the State of Ohio! " 
 
 There was a moment of inaction. Then the muz- 
 zles of a half -score muskets bristled before the bold 
 intruder's eyes. 
 
 "Forbear, men! forbear!" 
 
 The calm tones were recognized. It was General 
 Tupper, the best-known man in all Ohio. A mo- 
 mentary silence which ensued was broken by a de- 
 termined voice, 
 
 " By Gott, but ve vill not forbear ! Take heed to 
 yourself, old man ! Ve shoot down like a dog any- 
 pody dot stand in de vay ! " 
 
 The seasoned veteran recognized the ring of re- 
 solve in that answer, and stood aside without a word. 
 
 Was this action accepted as an augury by the 
 wavering mind of Harman Blennerhassett? Who 
 can say? Pushed on, as it seemed, by fate, in that 
 brief passing moment he made his choice, returned 
 mechanically his wife's ardent embrace, filed on 
 board the waiting vessel in the wake of his com- 
 rades, and sailed away forever from his island home.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE die was cast. Under cover of night the 
 Bouncing Bet and her three convoys put forth on 
 the turbulent river. The great expedition was at 
 last under way. To go where? To do what? 
 Never a man of them could say. The midnight sky 
 was not more densely veiled from their sight than 
 this comfortable knowledge from their understand- 
 ing. Qualms, doubts, and scruples, like a cloud of 
 bats, followed them on their darkling course, which, 
 be it said, bristled with other perils than snags and 
 sandbars. 
 
 Bollman and Dupeister, however, were no dull- 
 ards. They had noted Tupper's manner. He had 
 let them off too easily. Directly they were clear of 
 the island, therefore, they called a council of war 
 and passed along the warning for the crews to be 
 011 their guard. 
 
 Their suspicions, as it turned out, were justified. 
 The wily veteran had indeed another string to his 
 bow. A few miles down the river, that very minute, 
 a company of Virginia militia were mustering upon 
 a convenient headland to intercept them. 
 
 Luckily for the fugitives, these raw country sol- 
 diers had few ideas of discipline, but a large store 
 of whiskey. Here was a time and place for a fine 
 winter-night frolic. They made merry accordingly.
 
 82 ZACI1AKY PIMPS. 
 
 The bottle flew briskly about. The forest echoed 
 with jest and song. Somebody rubbing his be- 
 numbed hands idly let fall the word "bonfire." 
 The suggestion was hailed with shouts of approval. 
 In a twinkling the fagots were piled, the torch ap- 
 plied. Little recked the boozy revelers that the 
 flames mounting skyward sent at the same time a 
 tell-tale ray far up the winding river. 
 
 The watchful fugitives failed not to take warning. 
 Directly, every light on the little fleet was put out, 
 every voice was hushed, and thus, hugging the 
 shadow of the farther shore, in silence and darkness, 
 they glided past their would-be captors, arid before 
 morning were far out of reach of pursuit. 
 
 For the time being the question of their course 
 was simple enough. There was no choice of ways. 
 It was merely a matter of floating downward with 
 the current. A routine was quickly established. 
 The officers from the other boats, assembled daily on 
 board the Bouncing Bet, passed the time in endless 
 discussion, wherein Bollman harangued and Blenner- 
 hassett gloomed and shook his head. The soldiers 
 lounged and smoked; the crews for the most part 
 did the like, for the river, flowing with midwinter 
 fullness, floated them over snags and sandbars, and 
 relieved them of the task of poling. 
 
 It need hardly be said that all these stirring 
 experiences made a profound impression on Zach. 
 Their midnight departure from the island, and sub- 
 sequent escape, lived in his memory as stuff for life- 
 long reminiscence. Thenceforward the expedition 
 and whatever concerned it were invested with a nc*v
 
 ZACHARY PH1PS. 83 
 
 and thrilling interest. For was not every day's 
 progress an advance into a land of adventure and 
 possible peril? While it may be an open question 
 whether thoughts and emotions of this sort are a 
 wholesome regimen for the youthful mind, it may 
 be pleaded that in the case of Zach they had at 
 least a marked ripening effect upon both intellect 
 and character. 
 
 Amid all the mystery which surrounded their 
 course and doings, one question overrode all others 
 in interest. Where, all this time, was the com- 
 mander? Day and night, in his waking hours, 
 Zach pondered this riddle, as there came back to 
 haunt his boyish fancy that military figure sitting 
 in the stern of the boat, that cold, handsome face, 
 those shining eyes, that inscrutable look, telling of 
 measureless force in reserve, and of a calmness im- 
 pregnable to assault. Over and over again those 
 words rang in his ears : " Zach, you 're the kind of 
 a boy I like. Some day I shall have work for 
 you!" 
 
 When was that day coming? Was it now at 
 hand ? What kind of work would it be ? Or had 
 these been merely idle words, a pretty speech, on the 
 part of the commander? No! Zach remembered 
 could he ever forget ? the grave, searching look 
 the speaker turned upon him as he uttered them. 
 Ah ! What would not the little dreamer dare ! 
 What had not many an older heart and wiser head 
 dared and done under the witchery of those eyes ! 
 darings and doings of which history has discreetly 
 suppressed the tale.
 
 84 ZAC1IARY PUII'S. 
 
 Although some of these questions which bothered 
 Zach were destined never to be answered, chance, 
 meantime, threw a side-light upon others, which in 
 a measure prepared him for the extraordinary events 
 soon to follow. 
 
 Seated in the stern with Sandy one evening, the 
 conversation turned upon river-pirates. The skipper 
 scoffed loudly at the very notion. According to 
 him, a fresh-water variety of pirate must of necessity 
 be an abortive and milksop villain quite too con- 
 temptible to mention. About to argue the point, 
 the mate was checked by a warning hiss and a 
 raised forefinger. He stopped. There was heard a 
 murmur of voices near at hand. It soon appeared 
 that the triumvirate, seated over their wine in the 
 little cabin, had opened the window to let out the 
 tobacco-smoke; thereby unwittingly they enlarged 
 their audience. 
 
 "Ah, but, my fren'," the voice was easily recog- 
 nizable, "ven a man haf some great ding in mind, 
 he fly not like a cock upon de roof to flap vings und 
 tell all de vorld." 
 
 "Neither does he expect men to leave their homes 
 and families ; to spend their time and money on a 
 wild-goose chase, without some clear understanding 
 as to his plans and purposes." 
 
 Sandy nodded his head in strong approval of this 
 answer of Blennerhassett's. 
 
 "Vild-goose chase'! It ees a goot vord! Ja, 
 my fren', ve fly avay from dese fools, from dis ty- 
 rannee, from all dis stupid life, like dose vild gooses 
 to de Golf to freedom. Vy say you, den, ve haf
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 85 
 
 not clear under stahnding? Vot ees not understood? 
 Ve make all right at dis end, und Vilkinson at de 
 oder. Ah-h, you forget him, den, dis grand Vil- 
 kinson yonder at New Orleans ! He haf everyting 
 ready: men, money, arms, provisions. He look 
 every day to see us come. Ha, vait, den! Vait 
 only, an' see! " 
 
 '"Wait ' ! We have done nothing but wait. Our 
 lives and fortunes are at stake, and 't is due to us 
 that this absurd veil of mystery should be dropped ! " 
 
 "Who is deceived ?" asked Dupeister, somewhat 
 contemptuously . 
 
 "I was deceived. My wife was deceived. My 
 friends are still deceived. All this talk of an ideal 
 community, this colony in the wilderness, 't was a 
 trick unworthy a man of honor ! " 
 
 "But now that you know " 
 
 "What do I know? What assurance have I of 
 anything? What has he ever said, to commit him- 
 self?" 
 
 "You haf some eyes, my fren', you see for your- 
 self! It ees not for a child, dis game ve play. It 
 ees pretty big beezness. It make some day a great 
 talk in historee. It bring you honor und gloree ! " 
 
 " God grant it bring me not rather ruin and de- 
 struction! A more foolhardy venture was never 
 made. With a few old mud-scows and a handful 
 of men, to attempt to overthrow a great govern- 
 ment!" 
 
 '"Sh!" 
 
 "Softly! softly!" 
 
 " 'T is the truth ! You know it. What else is
 
 86 ZA CHARY rmrs. 
 
 aimed at but to fan into rebellion the discontents in 
 these border States " 
 
 "Mine fren', vill you only hearken to me?" 
 
 "To organize a revolution " 
 
 "Haf caution vat you speak ! " 
 
 "And while the United States Government is 
 busied putting out all these incendiary fires in their 
 own borders, to seize the opportunity, collect a troop 
 of desperadoes, sweep southward like a tornado, 
 and achieve at a blow the conquest of" 
 
 "Madman!" 
 
 The slamming down of the window cut short the 
 coming revelation. Zach looked aghast at Sandy, 
 who wagged his head and solemnly clicked his tongue 
 against the roof of his mouth. Before either could 
 speak, the little party came forth from the cabin, the 
 other boats were signaled to come alongside, and 
 Bollman and Dupeister returned to their respective 
 quarters for the night. 
 
 Directly, Sandy was called away to other duties, 
 and Zach, having no one to discuss with him the 
 puzzling things they had overheard, went reluctantly 
 to bed, to dream of conspiracies and revolutions, 
 and other long words of whose meaning he had very 
 misty notions. 
 
 Next morning, all these nightmares were for- 
 gotten in the wholesome influence of commonplace 
 sights and sounds. The blue sky, the brown river 
 dimpling in the wintry sunshine, the solemn pine 
 forests on either hand, spoke of nothing but peace. 
 So, too, the human kind seemed in good health and 
 spirits; the recruits idly chaffed each other over
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 87 
 
 their breakfasts ; the crews whistled and sang in the 
 forward deck, while at the helm, languidly sucking 
 his old clay pipe, sat the imperturbable skipper. 
 
 Thereupon, the reassured mate dipped his rumpled 
 head into a bucket of the muddy river water, dried it 
 on a jack-towel, broke his fast on bacon and johnny- 
 cake, and, filling his own pipe from the plug in his 
 pocket, joined his comrade in the stern. 
 
 It was a peaceful picture he looked upon: the 
 dark, silent forest on either hand, the placid river, 
 the little flotilla borne steadily on as upon the back 
 of some vast, slowly-writhing serpent. On board 
 the boats there was a corresponding calm ; the crews 
 lounged on the forward decks, their leaders gossiped 
 amidship. Thus far no accident had befallen them; 
 there was not a man on the sick-list ; all was monot- 
 onously well with the little fleet. Indeed, to tell 
 the truth, the movement of the drama was dragging 
 wofully. There was crying need of some stirring 
 incident, and, be it said, the scene could not have 
 been better prepared for it. 
 
 Thereupon, as if for once blind chance lent itself 
 to histrionic clap-trap, the event bettered expecta- 
 tion. As they rounded, presently, a bend in the 
 shore, the lookout on the Bouncing Bet uttered a 
 warning cry and pointed landward. All eyes turned 
 in that direction, and saw a man waving a white 
 handkerchief on the end of a long stick. After a 
 brief consultation, it was decided to bear down upon 
 him. The colloquy that took place was short and 
 stirring. 
 
 " Is Harman Blennerhassett on board ? "
 
 88 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 "I am the man." 
 
 "I have bad news for you ! " 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "Aaron Burr is arrested for high treason! " 
 
 " High treason !" Zach repeated the words over 
 and over to himself. What strange, new, and awful 
 thing could they mean? 
 
 In a trice the report had spread to the whole fleet. 
 The other boats made haste to come up. 
 
 "Who haf done dat?" broke out the inflammable 
 Bollman. " 'Tis tyrannee, rank tyrannee! Vere 
 ees it? Vere takes it place? Dey shall put him in 
 prison, hein?" 
 
 "Yes, he is now in jail." 
 
 "Eh? hear you dat? Come on, men! Ve go. 
 Come on! Ve tear down de vails, ve get him out." 
 
 In obedience to this summons, Zach instinctively 
 stooped and picked up a boat-hook, joining, excit- 
 edly in the burst of applause which greeted the 
 Doctor's harangue. 
 
 The messenger on shore shook his head. 
 
 "No, no," he called. "Burr sends you word to 
 observe the law, to do no violence, to go on in your 
 course and never fear for him. He will join you, 
 as he promised, at the mouth of the Cumberland." 
 
 " Ja, ja, ja! " said the Doctor, bawling after the 
 departing envoy; "go tell him ve do it. Ve go to 
 dot place. Ve vait. Ven he comes not right avay 
 to join us, ve tear down dat prison und burn in 
 ashes de town." 
 
 Thereupon took place, on the deck of the Boun- 
 cing Bet, an informal consultation. Zach listened
 
 Z AC II Ml Y PHI PS. 89 
 
 open-mouthed to the unguarded remarks dropped by 
 one excited leader or another in debating the question 
 what to do. 
 
 Should they go on ? Should they return ? What 
 confidence could be placed in Burr's promise to free 
 himself? Did he expect to hoodwink the govern- 
 ment? Had not events proved over and over again 
 that his temperament was fatally sanguine ? And 
 to them his accomplices was not indulgent For- 
 tune pointing out that very moment a loophole of 
 escape ? Should they not avail themselves of it, and 
 fly while there was time ? Should they go on and 
 join Wilkinson, or stay and share the fate of their 
 leader? 
 
 Needless to say, there was hopeless difference of 
 opinion, and with councils so divided, no course was 
 decided upon. 
 
 Meanwhile time and tide waited not. Days 
 passed, each bringing nearer the issue; the river 
 rolled on and bore them steadily forward to the 
 appointed spot. 
 
 " Forward " but how slowly ! At their tortoise- 
 pace it took a week or more to reach the mouth of 
 the Cumberland. Arrived at this long-looked-for 
 tryst, Zach was keenly disappointed to find it so 
 humdrum in appearance. It is not clear what he 
 had pictured to himself; doubtless he had expected 
 to find it distinguished in some striking way by art 
 or nature. This feeling, too, may have been shared 
 by his elders, for they showed little interest or enthu- 
 siasm on arriving, and moodily brought the boats to 
 anchor in sheltered places along the shore.
 
 1)0 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 In accordance with a plan agreed upon, the next 
 day a couple of trustworthy men were posted off to 
 find the commander and bring back some definite 
 news of him. 
 
 Thereupon the rest of the expedition entered upon 
 a season of doubt and weary waiting, attended by 
 very evident demoralization. 
 
 " What 'd I tell ye, Bub ? " asked Sandy of Zach 
 at one of their evening colloquies. 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "'Bout this 'ere," with a contemptuous nod. 
 
 "Dunno." 
 
 "Didn't I say 'twould go to bits? Wall, it 
 has!" 
 
 "Ho," incredulously. 
 
 "It 's all up, I tell ye, a dead hog." 
 
 "Jes' wait till he comes back! " retorted Zach, 
 stoutly. 
 
 "Young un, look a-here! I'm goin' to put a 
 live flea in your ear, he ain't a-comin'! " 
 
 "How can he come, don't you know he's in 
 prison ? " 
 
 "Is he?" Sandy clucked his tongue. "Wait 
 'n' see, that 's all! An' this 'ere Wilkinson d' ye 
 know wot I think? Bub, I think th' ain't no such 
 man!" 
 
 Accustomed as he was to the drift of Sandy's 
 moralizing, Zach could not help looking troubled at 
 this. % 
 
 "No, Bub," went on the skipper, shifting his 
 quid from one cheek to another. " We ain't seen 
 the wust o' this by a long chop. He 's got us out in
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 91 
 
 these backwoods, where all ther is fer a white man 
 to do is to starve to death, an' he cuts stick. Jes' 
 you hold on till the rations git low, an' ther '11 be 
 some music round here ! " 
 
 Sandy's growlings were stopped by the arrival of 
 a bird of good omen. A large boat was presently 
 seen floating past them amidstream. 
 
 Directly, it was recognized, and hailed with shouts 
 of welcome. On the deck, smiling and waving, stood 
 Mrs. Bleiinerhassett and her children. Having 
 procured a boat from Marietta, she had loaded it 
 with her choicest household effects, and followed 
 to join her husband and share the fortunes of the 
 expedition. 
 
 Never did languishing cause so need the tonic of 
 enthusiasm. 
 
 Zach was on dck next morning when she came 
 tripping forth from the cabin with the triumvirate 
 at her heels. 
 
 "Pooh, pooh! I say. I'll never believe a word 
 of it. Doctor, you astonish me! Colonel, I 'm 
 ashamed of you for such croaking. You 've both 
 been listening to my Bleiinerhassett, I know well 
 enough. Trust me, I should have thrown myself in 
 the river long ago, if I had listened to him. Never 
 heed him! You hear, my dear," turning to her 
 husband, "what a character you 're getting ! Never 
 heed him, I say ! This storm will blow over. If 
 only Wilkinson keeps his word, success is sure. As 
 for Colonel Burr, my friends, believe me, that man 
 was born to win ! Come, now, I '11 lay a wager 
 with any one that he will be with us this day week !
 
 92 ZACllARY PHI PS. 
 
 What, no takers? Gentlemen, I have doubts of 
 your courage! Colonel," sinking her voice, "do 
 you complain to me of nothing to do? Why don't 
 you set all these lazy fellows ashore see, yonder 
 is a fine bit of open ! and put them through their 
 drill?" 
 
 Turning with these words from Dupeister to join 
 her husband, the speaker came upon Zach. 
 
 "Ah, whom have we here? more old acquaint- 
 ance. Are you not sure enough you are the 
 little man I saw yonder on the island? What high 
 office is this you hold, my dear? The mate, ah, 
 yes. Do you hear, Colonel? let me introduce the 
 mate of the Bouncing Bet, Mr. Jack What's 
 your other name, my dear?" 
 
 "Zachary Phips." 
 
 "Phips, to be sure. Well, Zach, I dare say 
 you 're a fine seaman by this, and I 'm glad to see 
 you safe and sound. Now you shall go aft and 
 teach my own boys yonder to fish. Harman, dear, 
 make room! here is the mate coming to join you! " 
 
 The ring of this cheery voice set a little chord 
 throbbing in Zach's heart, and he felt an inexpli- 
 cable thrill as the firm, jeweled hand rested 011 his 
 shoulder. He yielded perforce to the old charm. 
 His elders, be it said, followed suit at discretion. 
 Nobody could long resist such kindliness, such 
 energy, such enthusiasm. Thereupon the stagnant 
 thermometer of the expedition mounted several de- 
 grees. Events, too, seemed to happen out of due 
 course and probability for no other reason than to 
 justify this irrational hope and courage. The mes-
 
 ZACHAKY PHIPS. 93 
 
 seugers, for example, returned clays before they were 
 expected and garrulous with news, startling news, 
 news incredible and quite too good to be true. Burr's 
 star was still in the ascendant. He had been tried 
 the great Henry Clay acting as his counsel and 
 acquitted. The country was ringing with his tri- 
 umph. Balls and fetes signalized his victory. Has- 
 tening to Nashville to join his contingent there, the 
 whole city had united in tendering him an ovation ; 
 policy compelled him, however anxious to overtake 
 his waiting friends, to accept the tribute. The 
 time spent was not lost. Every hour brought more 
 money, provisions, recruits, and confirmed him and 
 his enterprise in the good graces of the people. 
 
 On the very heels of this news came, the com- 
 mander himself. Zach was washing the soap out 
 of his eyes, early one morning, when he saw a line 
 of dark objects coming down the tributary river. 
 He pointed them out to Sandy, who put a glass on 
 them. 
 
 "I '11 be cussed, Bub,"- 
 
 "Eh!" 
 - "If 't ain't the other fleet." 
 
 Zach thought no more of his soapy eyes; he 
 thought only of Mrs. Blennerhassett, and of being 
 the first to tell her the news. 
 
 Accordingly he ran to the cabin door and pounded 
 with might and main, shouting all the time at the 
 top of his voice, 
 
 " Here he comes I Here he comes ! The boats ! 
 See the boats! " 
 
 An hour of commotion followed, in which guns
 
 94 ZACHARY PH1PS. 
 
 were fired, flags waved, and the woods rang with 
 hnzzahs. 
 
 The commander with his daughter came straight- 
 way aboard the Bouncing Bet. The two women 
 flew to each other as if with magnetic attraction, 
 and Zach from his seat in the stern witnessed with 
 wonder the ease with which Burr himself resumed 
 his old ascendency over the triumvirate. 
 
 Later in the day, Burr reviewed the fleet and 
 made a speech to the members of the expedition, 
 from the deck of the Bouncing Bet. Zach heard 
 it all. He marveled in his boyish ignorance how 
 such a little man could produce so profound an 
 impression ; could call up tones and gestures which 
 so dignified the occasion. His words, what could 
 be more convincing? He called them a band of 
 brothers, a band of freemen, who were leaving be- 
 hind a poor, weak, tyrannical government, to go 
 to carve out fortunes for themselves under better 
 auspices. What a glorious future awaited them! 
 What wealth, what honor, what fame ! Perils and 
 hardships there would be, but did they not expect 
 them? Were they not ready for them? Was not 
 the prize worth any sacrifice and endeavor? 
 
 Irresistibly, the old fascination made itself felt. 
 Who could harbor in his bosom a qualm before that 
 assurance so lofty and so calm ; before that courage 
 which had never been wanting in any emergency ; 
 before that whole heroic personality, freshly returned 
 to them, crowned with the laurels of a victory gained 
 over a weak and malignant administration? 
 
 The speech was received with great enthusiasm ;
 
 ZACIIARY PI1IPS. 95 
 
 it seemed not to strike any one as odd that there 
 had been no mention of Washita in it, or that in 
 a harangue professedly setting forth the objects of 
 the expedition, not a single definite word had been 
 uttered. 
 
 Thereupon they got under way, down the Ohio 
 to the Mississippi, and so downward towards the 
 Gulf. But under auspices how changed ! No 
 longer they stole along in silence and fear, seeing 
 in every man an enemy and in every thicket an 
 ambuscade, but with all disguise and secrecy laid 
 aside, they floated amidstream in the blaze of noon, 
 with banners flying, with shouts and laughter, chal- 
 lenging attention, exchanging visits and compli- 
 ments with every wayside resident of wealth or dis- 
 tinction, boldly saluting the forts of the government, 
 and hobnobbing with its officers. 
 
 Although the gayety culminated on board the 
 Bouncing Bet, it seemed not to include the com- 
 mander. Maintaining ever the same unbroken 
 equanimity, he showed no elation. Zach never tired 
 of watching him as he paced the deck, now disputing 
 with the triumvirate, now chatting with the ladies. 
 Wherein dwelt the subtle nameless air of distinction 
 which hung about him, shown now in the impressive 
 dignity which he employed with the men, now in the 
 tender air of solicitude he showed toward his daugh- 
 ter, or, again, in the courtly bearing displayed to- 
 wards Mrs. Blennerhassett ? 
 
 If, to a more worldly-wise critic, these same fine 
 manners might have seemed too invariably correct 
 to be natural, too elaborate to be entirely honest,
 
 9C ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 Zach was incapable of such subtle distinctions. He 
 took things as they seemed, and did not go out of 
 his way to find any latent significance in the intent, 
 admiring look with which the commander greeted 
 Mrs. Blennerhassett of a morning, in the fact that 
 he held her hand a needlessly long time when saying 
 good-night, or in his habit of invariably lowering 
 his voice upon the approach of anybody when they 
 were talking. 
 
 Whatever the temptation, however, the commander 
 allowed nothing to interfere with business. Neither 
 did he spend all his time talking with the ladies, nor 
 any preponderance of it on board the Bouncing Bet. 
 He scrupulously visited all the vessels of the fleet in 
 turn. He talked with the under officers, with the 
 men, with the very negro boatmen. Thus, in due 
 time, it came Zach's turn. As it chanced, Sandy 
 had left him alone to manage the helm one evening. 
 Burr approached, sat down beside him, and begged 
 to be allowed to try his luck at steering. Affecting 
 not to note Zach's embarrassment, he went on talk- 
 ing the while in an easy, friendly way, not to be 
 mistaken for familiarity. 
 
 "So! Why, 'tis not so hard. This, you say, is 
 larboard. H'm-m ! I might soon learn, why not ? 
 So you are to be a boatman, Zach? No? You look 
 higher? Ah, I thought so. You read and write? 
 Yes, of course. Twelve years old. Eh, only nine? 
 You are a big boy for nine. Nine, so much the 
 better, there 's plenty of time to learn. You can't 
 learn too much, remember that ! Learn every- 
 thing that comes in your way ! Read all the good
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 97 
 
 books. The good books are the books which tell 
 about facts. Then some day when your chance 
 comes, you '11 be ready. And it will come, it will 
 surely come, my boy," rising and patting his lis- 
 tener's head. " Remember this, too," 
 
 Zach looked up expectantly, and the blazing eyes 
 seemed to pierce straight to his heart. 
 
 " And remember that Aaron Burr said it to 
 you: in this country every man is just what he 
 makes himself ! " 
 
 It might, perhaps, be too much to say of that mo- 
 ment that it formed an epoch in Zach's life; but it 
 is not improbable that the influence of the speaker's 
 look and tone so emphasized the force of the truism 
 he uttered, that not all the stormy events of his after 
 life ever quite obliterated them from the hearer's 
 mind. 
 
 Had Zach been but blessed with clairvoyant vision 
 as he gazed admiringly after his hero that night, he 
 would have seen suspended, by a slender thread, 
 above his head an ugly weapon known of old as the 
 "Sword of Damocles." 
 
 In their onward course the fleet came at last to 
 Bayou Pierre, a small town thirty miles above Nat- 
 chez. Hardly had they anchored off the levee when 
 news came to Burr from a trustworthy source that 
 Wilkinson, through treachery or panic, had betrayed 
 him to the government ; that the real purpose of 
 the expedition was known, and that the whole coun- 
 try was ringing with the damning evidence of his 
 treason.
 
 98 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 Whatever may be thought as to his guilt or in- 
 nocence, there can be no question that in this crisis 
 Burr showed the stuff of leadership. With un- 
 shaken composure, he read the downfall of his hopes, 
 and heard clanging in the air the knell of his great 
 enterprise. 
 
 There could be no doubt that the end had come. 
 He held in his hand the proclamation of the gov- 
 ernor of Mississippi, charging him and his associ- 
 ates with conspiracy. 
 
 With a smile of contempt for the benefit of the 
 messenger, he passed the paper to Bollman, and 
 coolly ridiculed the charge. 
 
 But fine words would no longer serve. The gov- 
 ernor was at hand. He summoned Burr to a meet- 
 ing on shore. Without guard or escort the latter 
 boldly repaired to the spot. His dismayed adher- 
 ents saw him depart with a smile of confidence on 
 his lips. Standing in the midst of them, Zach 
 looked blankly on with a bewildered sense that some- 
 thing was wrong. 
 
 The suspense was short. News came directly that 
 the commander was again arrested; that a grand 
 jury was impaneled to indict him. 
 
 Remembering the triumphant smile with which he 
 had departed, Zach held fast to his faith, and in 
 answer to Sandy's croaking sneer, said only, " Wait 
 and see ! " 
 
 As there was nothing else to do, they did wait and 
 see. Early next morning came tidings that, after 
 a careful hearing of the evidence, the grand jury 
 had failed to find an indictment.
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 99 
 
 The jubilation in the fleet over this report was 
 quickly nipped in the bud. 
 
 A discouraging rumor prevailed that Mephisto- 
 pheles, in the form of the renegade Wilkinson, stood 
 back of the governor's chair whispering new insinu- 
 ations in his ear. In vain Burr demanded his re- 
 lease. The prejudiced official held fast to his pris- 
 oner in spite of the fact that the grand jury, the 
 judge of the court, and the whole community took 
 sides with this victim of lawless tyranny. 
 
 The victim himself, despairing of getting the 
 governor's consent to his release, chose to do with- 
 out it. 
 
 Thus one fine day his comrades on the fleet were 
 startled out of their apathy by the report of his 
 escape.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE joy on board the fleet over Burr's escape was 
 not of long duration, for in a very few days came 
 news of his recapture. 
 
 Those intervening days had afforded the mem- 
 bers of the expedition opportunity for a little cool 
 reflection. With one accord all recognized that the 
 end had come. Their secret was disclosed. The 
 government was at last thoroughly aroused. A re- 
 sistless force blocked the way. 
 
 In his own fashion Zach felt overwhelmed by the 
 blow. To his boyish fancy it seemed that a big, 
 black curtain had suddenly fallen between him and 
 a future glowing with promise. Instead of those 
 hope-lighted fields in which he had been so long 
 roaming at large, he now felt himself squeezed into 
 a cramped, sordid, workaday present, where there 
 was scant light, air, or elbow-room. 
 
 Dazed and helpless, he looked on and saw the 
 proud fabric of the expedition fall to pieces like a 
 rope of sand. He could by no means understand 
 how it came about, or what it meant, or what had 
 happened to make everybody so suddenly lose heart. 
 Had not the commander triumphed over his enemies 
 before ? Could he not do it again ? 
 
 He beheld, happy boy I only the outside of things. 
 He knew nothing of those busy sappers and miners 
 known as moral causes, knew nothing of the dry
 
 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 101 
 
 rot of demoralization which had been already a long 
 time at work on the flimsy substance of the expe- 
 dition. Little as he saw, it was enough to make 
 him feel ashamed of his fellows, for at the end 
 there was a scramble for spoils which was at once 
 brutish and quite human. Everybody seized what 
 he could lay hand on and ran away. This does not 
 necessarily inculpate the leaders, who had neither 
 voice nor authority to stay the pillage. 
 
 The two women sat apart, unconscious of all this 
 clutching and grabbing. Gathering up the feeble 
 shreds and patches of hope left her, Mrs. Blenner- 
 hassett tried heroically to support her companion. 
 At the instance of the down-hearted Theodosia, she 
 made a futile effort to stay the panic. Her voice, 
 once so potent, was unheeded. Even her husband 
 turned a deaf ear to her entreaties, and sternly went 
 on with his preparations to depart. For the first 
 time in their married life he was the moving power. 
 Summoned at last to go, she turned to leave the boat, 
 when her eye fell upon Zach. He sat watching her 
 with an ache at his heart. Upon the instant, drop- 
 ping bags and baskets, she flew to him. 
 
 "Dear child ! I quite forgot you ! " folding him 
 in her arms. "What is to become of you? Alas! 
 what is to become of any of us ? God in his infinite 
 mercy only knows. I cannot leave you behind here 
 in the wilderness. Harman," to her husband, "he 
 shall go with us. It is little enough we have left, 
 but Blennerhassett, my dear ! " 
 
 "Hold hard, marm!" Sandy at last broke in. 
 "Don't you never fret about him. He ain't goin'
 
 102 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 overboard yit. I fetched him out here, V I ain't 
 goin' to let him git stranded." 
 
 "True, true! I forgot. You told me before. 
 I 'm glad he has such a friend. Ah, keep him out 
 of harm's way, my good man! Keep him from bad 
 er companions," with a dubious look at the 
 skipper himself. " Remember, he is still a child ! 
 Remember he has no mother! My dear," turning 
 again to Zach, " 't is sad to leave you in this wild 
 place, but," lowering her voice, "courage! Cour- 
 age, my boy! This is not the end! That great 
 man is not dead. He will triumph, surely. His 
 great heart pants for a larger freedom, and he will 
 gain it. There is time yet, and so, so," she re- 
 peated with a significant glance, "we may meet 
 again. Remember me. Remember what I say! 
 Good-by! Good-by! May God bless and guard 
 you!" 
 
 These were not mere words, they were facts ; they 
 lived in Zach's memory, not as predictions, but as 
 truths, truths by which unconsciously he squared 
 his life, planned the future and gauged the past. 
 In the long years of trial and privation which fol- 
 lowed, in the years of blind gropings among baffling 
 cross-roads for a way which would lead him up to 
 some clear outlook upon life, how he listened for 
 that summons ! how he waited, ready at any moment 
 of day or night to answer to that call ! 
 
 Meantime the tumult of dissolution raged about 
 him. Everything seemed coming to an end. Not 
 until the next morning, when sleep had cleared his 
 brain of bewilderment, did he fully realize the change
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 103 
 
 that had taken place. Of all the bustling throng 
 of yesterday, there were left, besides a couple of 
 negroes, only the Doctor and Sandy, and of the 
 imposing flotilla only two sorry-looking barges as 
 convoys of the Bouncing Bet. 
 
 This paltry remnant of the fleet represented Burr's 
 especial assets. The Doctor, loyal to the end, be- 
 stirred himself to realize what he could on them. 
 He succeeded in selling the negroes and barges at 
 Natchez, and with his crew reduced to skipper and 
 mate, turned the prow of the Bouncing Bet south- 
 ward. 
 
 As the course of the river from Natchez to New 
 Orleans is very crooked, they naturally made slower 
 progress than usual, but haying no cargo, they passed 
 without difficulty other boats more heavily laden. 
 One of these floated some hours alongside, and seemed 
 disposed to join company. The watchful Doctor took 
 occasion to scrape acquaintance with the skipper. 
 Zach, who had never before fallen in with a Missis- 
 sippi boatman, stared at the stranger with might 
 and main. Tall, stooping, gaunt, and impressively 
 muscular, his face scarlet, his eyelashes gone, his 
 long, tawny hair crowned by a wide-brimmed hat 
 which flopped about his face; his dress a linsey- 
 woolsey jacket with sleeves half-way to his elbows, 
 supplemented by trousers of Kentucky jeans, which 
 reached but little below the knee, he was of a type 
 not to be easily confused with others. 
 
 "Mornin', stranger!" he called out in answer to 
 the Doctor's nod. 
 
 "Goot morning; ve make de road togedder, it 
 seem ! "
 
 104 ZACIIARY PHIPS. 
 
 "Yeah." 
 
 "It might rain, you dink?" 
 
 "Naw." 
 
 "It ees cold already," 
 
 "Raw ez hell." 
 
 "De river makes itself very full dose times." 
 
 "Naw," squirting tobacco juice, "jes' takin' a 
 long breath ; she won't spill over yit awhile. Loaded 
 rather light, ain't ye?" looking the Bouncing Bet 
 over critically. 
 
 "Ve, h'm-m. Ja, ve get rid of some dings at 
 dot odder place," 
 
 "Natchez?" 
 
 "Ye-es; dot vos it." 
 
 "Whatyebentotin'?" 
 
 "Hein?" 
 
 "Loaded with hogs, was ye?" 
 
 " Ja ye-es; " adding to himself in an undertone, 
 "dotvasno lie, God knows; hogs vith two legs only. 
 Also, mine fren'," striving to give a turn to the 
 talk, "dot ees fine maize you haf." 
 
 "Heigh?" 
 
 "De corn," pointing to the cargo of the stranger's 
 craft; "how goes de price, now?" 
 
 "Seven bits dumped on the levee." 
 
 The doctor whistled and rolled his eyes in well- 
 feigned astonishment. Having adroitly rounded one 
 conversational snag, however, he kept on the alert. 
 
 "Seven bits," repeated the stranger; "an' goin' 
 to climb," 
 
 "Vy ees dot?" 
 
 "Bad season, poor crop, rot, mildew."
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 105 
 
 "Und de bad crop make de goot brice?" 
 
 "I reckon; but I say, stranger, whar' d'ye hail 
 from?" 
 
 " Ve h'm-m ve come from er avay up 
 yonder, see? " waving his arm vaguely to the north- 
 ward, "but you, my fren', come from moch nearer, 
 hem?" 
 
 "Right, stranger; I come from Kentuck, 'n' a 
 right good place to hail from. Ye goin' to load up 
 down below? " 
 
 "Dis boat? No, I load it never again ! " 
 
 " Don 't say ? Nothin' the matter with her ? " 
 
 "Noding; she ees like a nut, so sound." 
 
 "Humph! she ain't bad lookin'. What d' ye ask 
 for her?" 
 
 " A song vot you sing, noding at all ; dirt cheap. 
 If you want a boat, now, my fren' " 
 
 "Naw, naw, 1 don't. Thunder! I got boats 
 enough. But, I say, come aboard here. Les' have 
 a drink. How old is she? " 
 
 " Seex five er four how do I know ? look 
 for yourself." 
 
 "Come aboard! Come aboard, I say," putting 
 over his helm as he spoke so as to come alongside. 
 "Ther bein' nary thing else to do, we mought strike 
 a trade! " 
 
 The Doctor, nothing loath, stepped aboard, and 
 disappeared with the stranger into his little cabin, 
 where they remained haggling over their tin cups of 
 whiskey for a matter of two hours. 
 
 Zach and Sandy, left to themselves, had a con- 
 ference.
 
 106 ZACB-ARY PIIIPS. 
 
 "Is he goin' to sell the Bouncing Bet, Sandy?" 
 
 The tone was one of dismay. 
 
 "Seems likely, Bub," coolly answered the skipper, 
 as he grazed an ugly snag. 
 
 "What shall we do, then?" 
 
 "Trust to luck, young un, as we did afore." 
 
 Zach did not look reassured. After pondering 
 the matter, he presently suggested, - 
 
 "P'raps, 'f that man buys her, he '11 take us 
 too." 
 
 "No, he won't, Bub; he won't git us. I 'm 
 through with this river business. It 's too squeez- 
 in' ; th' ain't room enough; it 's like a bead slidin' 
 up an' down a string." 
 
 Zach was silent. Clearly, he did not agree with 
 the skipper. 
 
 "No, Bub, you keep your upper lip out o' pucker. 
 We '11 find su'thin' or other, but no more o' this 
 kindo'foolin'!" 
 
 Again Zach held his peace. How could he ever 
 make Sandy understand that the expedition, what- 
 ever its outcome, had been to him the beginning of 
 life; had opened to him untrod fields of thought 
 and fancy ! had taught him new words and things ; 
 big words, standing for mighty things, the world, 
 mankind, freedom, destiny; had stirred within him 
 strange yearnings not to be put into language! 
 
 " Shall we have to run away when we git there, 
 Sandy?" he asked, with a very vague notion of the 
 rights of a free-born American citizen. 
 
 "Gitwhar!" 
 
 "Noo Orle'ens."
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 107 
 
 "No, Bub, we '11 walk away, an' ez slow 's ye 
 like, but not afore this ere one comes down with the 
 rhino; we don't h'ist anchor 'thout rations aboard 
 another time." 
 
 The afternoon was half spent when the Doctor 
 came back to his own quarters. His face wore a 
 look of satisfaction. He muttered to himself, and, 
 returning to the cabin, he spent an hour poring over 
 the accounts. 
 
 Meantime the boat, gliding on its way, arrived 
 within sight of the Crescent City. Zach's cry of 
 announcement brought out the Doctor, who, assuring 
 himself that they were indeed at last within view of 
 their destination, thought wise to prepare his crew 
 for the coming separation v 
 
 "Veil, boys, ve get here, hein? De eggsbedition 
 for dis time come to an end. Ja, 't is true, 't vos 
 bad luck ve had. Ach, lieber Gk>tt, awful bad! It 
 ees not den my fault, see you? I lose all my time, 
 all my vork, all my money. I see everyting ready 
 to fly away, uud I plead mit dose odders ; I pray dey 
 shall haf some reason, dot dey shall vait. But you 
 haf see ; dey listen to noding. Dey run avay home, 
 und all goes to pieces. How, den, tell me, my fren's, 
 can I keep to you dose promises I make 'bout dot 
 land 'n' dose odder tings, hein?" 
 
 "Devil take the land 'n' the promises. Gimme 
 my wages, that 's all I want, 'n' I don't ask no odds 
 then o' anybody," said Sandy gruffly, suspecting a 
 coming default of payment. 
 
 He was mistaken. The Doctor promptly paid 
 him the full amount due, and when the boat reached
 
 108 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 the levee, bade them a kindly good-by, adding, as a 
 final warning, 
 
 "St! Ven ve keep dis vild leetle animal," tap- 
 ping the end of his tongue, " shut up in de cage, ve 
 get not so much into mischief, hein?" 
 
 Very different from the stately city of to-day was 
 the shabby, irregular little town of New Orleans 
 which greeted Zach's wandering eyes as, having 
 taken a fond parting look at the Bouncing Bet, he 
 turned to follow Sandy along the levee. Although 
 it had been already for two years under the domin- 
 ion of the United States, it was still to all intents 
 and purposes a foreign town, its populace a jumble 
 of nationalities, and its life signalized by a bewil- 
 dering variety of languages, customs, types of char- 
 acter, styles of garb, and forms of address. 
 
 Naturally enough, as the most characteristic fea- 
 ture of the town, Zach's attention was first drawn to 
 the levee. The sights there proved odd and novel 
 to the little Yankee. Chief among these were the 
 boats. Lying sluggishly in a straggling row along 
 the batture, with their noses stuck into the soft mud, 
 were scores of long, black, crocodile-looking rafts, 
 covered by a raised scantling to protect their cargo, 
 and furnished with no motive power save a long oar 
 at the stern and two pieces of timber projecting like 
 fins from the sides, to serve in a rude way as pad- 
 dles. Loaded with fruit, vegetables, poultry, lard, 
 coarse hay, and live hogs, all lying side by side, 
 steaming in the sun, and sending forth a richly- 
 compounded and sickening stench, they presented
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 109 
 
 a feature of commercial wealth and enterprise not 
 to be forgotten. 
 
 The levee had other features calculated to keep 
 Zach agape. These were the piles of merchandise. 
 He had not dreamed there could be so much upon 
 earth : pork without end, flour by the thousand bar- 
 rels, cotton in mountainous heaps, dumped bale upon 
 bale on the muddy batture for the wind to blow over, 
 the rain to pour upon, and the hot, scorching sun 
 to burn, until bagging and binding-cord rotted and 
 fell away. 
 
 Well might the new-comers stare at all this 
 wealth brought from some mysterious source, which 
 Sandy vaguely called "up North," by the down- 
 rushing river, to be piled up in overwhelming pro- 
 fusion here at its mouth for all the world to come 
 and gather. 
 
 The day is on the wane. With the sunset hour 
 the levee takes on another aspect. The muddy river 
 gleams like a golden scarf between its verduring 
 banks ; the hum of commerce grows feebler ; a slight 
 breeze blows up from the Gulf; and, as the din 
 of day grows fainter, the cathedral bells begin to 
 chime. It is the call to vespers. Directly, the flags 
 of every nation, English, French, Spanish, Dutch, 
 Danish, Swedish, Russian, are run up to the mast- 
 head. 
 
 The sun gone, it grows rapidly dark, for there 
 is no twilight. Still the wondering pair stroll on, 
 while the stars begin to glimmer above their heads 
 and the round moon rises red and full over the 
 distant bayous. On they go, bewitched by these
 
 110 ZACHARY PHIP8. 
 
 strange foreign sights and sounds : the negroes sing- 
 ing their droll French and Spanish songs ; the show- 
 boxes, furnished forth with a glittering store of 
 watches, chains, gewgaws, pistols of every form and 
 size, and murderous bowie-knives. 
 
 One of these last caught Sandy's eye, and he 
 stopped to barter for it. With its blade twelve 
 inches long, its edge perfect as a razor, its point 
 curved and hollowed at the back, designed to cut 
 both ways, with its heel broad and thick and heavy, 
 it was indeed a weapon to make one shudder. Zach 
 laid it down with an uncomfortable feeling, and 
 noted with wonder the look of regret in Sandy's 
 face that he could not buy it. 
 
 Passing up a street which led into the heart of 
 the town, they came upon a building lighted as 
 brightly as was possible in those days of oil and tal- 
 low. A placard affixed to the facade bore in large 
 letters the word "Marionettes." The subjoined 
 text being in French, Zach could not make it out, 
 and turned to his companion for an explanation. 
 Sandy shook his head. 
 
 At that moment the crowd began to pour out of 
 the little theatre. The performance was over. Zach 
 and Sandy stepped aside to make room. Presently, 
 in the midst of the throng, Zach heard a childish 
 voice ask the very question which had just dropped 
 from his own lips. 
 
 "What are Marionettes, papa? " 
 
 Turning, he saw a little girl holding by the hand 
 a tall, middle-aged man, and followed by a negro 
 nurse.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. Ill 
 
 "Marionettes, my pet, are a kind of people very 
 much like human beings, only with much more sense 
 and politeness." 
 
 Puzzling over this answer, Zach glanced up at the 
 speaker's face. As seen in the uncertain light, it 
 was severely grave. 
 
 "Oh, papa, look, see!" broke forth the child, 
 pointing to an old negress selling flowers. "Get 
 me some! " 
 
 Tossing a coin mechanically into the old woman's 
 tray, the gentleman chose the finest nosegay and 
 handed it to the child, who, in running back to show 
 it to the nurse, lost off her hat. Thrust forward by 
 a pressure from behind, Zach set his muddy foot full 
 upon it. Covered with confusion, he picked it up 
 and handed it to the little owner with a muttered 
 apology. 
 
 "You bad, naughty boy," cried the child, looking 
 at the soiled headgear in disgust. "You have 
 spoiled my new hat. I will never, never wear it 
 again! " saying which she tossed it under the feet of 
 the passing crowd. Her father, looking back, saw 
 the movement, but made no remark. He quietly 
 took out his handkerchief and tied it about her head. 
 
 "How funny you will make me look, papa! 
 Mimi, Mimi, see what papa is doing! Oh, it will 
 make all the people laugh. Now, Mimi, you may 
 carry the flowers till we get home. No, no, don't 
 you take my hand! Papa must! " 
 
 The father indulgently held out his hand. 
 
 "Now, Mimi, "continued the little autocrat, "you 
 must walk in front of us so I can see the flowers."
 
 112 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 The docile nurse went on as she was told. 
 
 "Please, papa," was the next request, "I am 
 tired. Won't you carry me? " 
 
 Without a word the stranger picked up the weary 
 little lady, who, as she nestled down upon his shoul- 
 der, asked sleepily, 
 
 "Dear papa!" 
 
 "Yes, darling." 
 
 " Will you take me to see the Marionettes some 
 other time?" 
 
 "Yes, pet, as many times as you like." 
 
 Spellbound by this talk and byplay, so different 
 from domestic scenes in Salutation Alley, Zach stood 
 gazing after the strangers until they were lost in the 
 crowd. Mechanically, then, he followed the yawn- 
 ing Sandy back to the levee, where, with other va- 
 grants, they found a bed among the cotton-bales.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 ALTHOUGH next day was Sunday, when all the 
 world takes, as matter of right, an extra morning 
 nap, Zach and Sandy were stirring betimes. It was 
 indeed Hobson's choice with them, for the sun 
 glared so fiercely in their sky -turned faces that they 
 were glad to be up and away. 
 
 For want of anything better to do, they wandered 
 about the town. It proved to be quite unlike any 
 place they had ever seen. The narrow streets were 
 not only abominably muddy, but they abounded in 
 holes and ruts, and were bordered on either side by 
 gutters half filled with stagnant water, into which 
 each householder thought himself privileged to fling 
 what filth he would. 
 
 The houses, too, were odd and not wholly prepos- 
 sessing. They were for the most part of Spanish 
 type ; low, unpainted, one - story buildings, black- 
 ened from exposure to the weather, with moss-grown 
 roofs jutting out over the footpaths below. During 
 the day, moreover, they had a gloomy, prison-like 
 air, owing to the jealous Spanish custom of keeping 
 doors and windows tightly closed; but at night, as 
 Zach afterwards discovered, they had quite another 
 aspect, when the heavy wooden shutters stood ajar, 
 and glimpses of the bright, peering eyes, jeweled 
 hands, and waving fans of the Spanish beauties
 
 114 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 within excited the admiration and curiosity of the 
 passers-by. 
 
 Wandering, chance-led, the two new-comers ar- 
 rived presently at the market, then as now one of 
 the marked features of the city. 
 
 It stood in the heart of the town, a near neigh- 
 bor to the cathedral and the Hotel de Ville, and 
 over against the Place d' Armes, a large patch of 
 greensward planted with oranges, lemons, myrtles, 
 roses, and jessamine. 
 
 Early as it was, business had already begun. 
 Strange sights and sounds abounded on every hand, 
 of which to Zach the humanity was the drollest part. 
 The negroes especially delighted him. He laughed 
 aloud at the little pickaninnies, with their bare legs, 
 ragged straw hats, roguish eyes, and French lingo. 
 He stared in awe at the wenches, with their towering 
 turbans and dangling earrings, sitting so majes- 
 tically amidst their heaps of poultry, vegetables, 
 flowers, sweet herbs, and honey. 
 
 The fruit-stalls next awakened his admiration. 
 With what tropical lavishness they were loaded, and 
 what a luscious odor hung about them! Gazing, 
 his bosom swelled with a retrospective regret, as he 
 thought of the weary hours he had wasted robbing 
 the sour-apple orchards of the North End. But, 
 outdoing all these things, fine as they seemed, were 
 the venders of monkeys, lap-dogs, and parrots, who 
 invariably held Zach speechless and fascinated until 
 Sandy drew him forcibly away. 
 
 The first little shock which he had felt on find- 
 ing the market open on Sunday soon passed away.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 115 
 
 Indeed, what with the hurly-burly and the babel of 
 languages, no one impression had a chance to gain 
 lodgment in his mind save, perhaps, a lasting sur- 
 prise as to how all these folks understood each other, 
 for no two seemed to be speaking the same tongue, 
 and there was scarcely a word of good honest Eng- 
 lish amongst it all. 
 
 Thanks to these varied diversions, the time slipped 
 quickly by, and the morning was nearly half spent 
 when a savory odor near at hand reminded the pair 
 that they had not breakfasted. Turning about they 
 found themselves before the stall of a fat negress 
 selling hot sausages and potatoes. Noting with 
 experienced eye the hungry look in their faces, she 
 hailed them. 
 
 "lei, Mess'rs! les saucissons, pour les deux? 
 Bien! Pommes-de-terre chaudes. C'est ca! Via! 
 Mangez! " 
 
 After breakfast they sauntered over to the Place 
 d'Armes to smoke their pipes there. As they lay 
 upon the grass, the chimes, beginning to ring, drew 
 their attention to the cathedral. Although the 
 most considerable building in the town, it was far 
 from imposing, and, on the whole, rather a mean- 
 looking structure. Seeing the doors open and the 
 people going in, Zach felt a sudden desire to take a 
 peep at the interior. Leaving Sandy to his pipe, 
 therefore, he traversed the Place, crossed the street, 
 mounted the long flight of stone steps, and made his 
 way in. His curiosity was quickly satisfied; save 
 for the altar, it proved quite as bald and bare as the 
 meeting-houses at home.
 
 116 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 Having no desire to stay through the service, he 
 turned to come away, but found it not so easy as 
 going in. A throng of persons had already arrived, 
 and the vestibule was crowded. By dint of pushing, 
 however, he at last reached the street, where, hav- 
 ing forced his way through a procession of nuns who 
 stood waiting to file into the cathedral, he found 
 himself again at the entrance to the Place d'Armes. 
 There, in the gateway, looking about with a dazed 
 expression, stood the little girl whom he had seen 
 at the Marionettes. 
 
 With a look of interest, Zach stopped to observe 
 her. She was dressed with much elegance, and, 
 mite as she was, had an indefinable air of distinc- 
 tion. Doubtless it was this suggestion of something 
 about her foreign to his own experience which riv- 
 eted Zach's attention. The child, meanwhile, with 
 increasing dismay, stood looking this way and that, 
 crying constantly, 
 
 "Mimi! Mimi! Come here, Mimi! Stop hid- 
 ing, haughty Mimi ! " 
 
 Zach looked about to discover the teasing or 
 neglectful nurse, but she was nowhere to be seen. 
 Whereupon, approaching the child with an awkward 
 air, he asked, 
 
 "What 's the matter, little girll " 
 
 The child looked at him without recognition. 
 Zach breathed freer and proceeded with more confi- 
 dence. 
 
 "Are you lost?" 
 
 "No. Mimi 's lost." 
 
 "Where did Mimi go?"
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 117 
 
 "Over there!" pointing to the market still 
 crowded with loungers. 
 
 "Come with me and we'll go find her!" said 
 Zach, offering his hand. 
 
 Raising again her tearful eyes, the child bent one 
 inquiring look upon her new friend, and directly put 
 her soft, velvety palm in his rough hand with an air 
 of complete confidence. 
 
 Zach on his part looked down upon the little 
 creature who had so trustingly put herself under his 
 guidance with the proud, protecting air with which 
 he might have regarded a beautiful bird which had 
 come to perch upon his finger. Carefully he chose 
 the cleanest place to cross the street; scrupulously 
 he guarded the delicate figure from contact with the 
 jostling crowd, as they threaded their way in and out 
 among the booths and stalls of the market, demand- 
 ing meanwhile of every intelligent -looking negress 
 news of Mimi. With one accord, they all shook 
 their heads, or answered in their French jargon, 
 which he could not understand. 
 
 Having thoroughly searched the market to no 
 purpose, they took their way back to the cathe- 
 dral, where the service was already over and the 
 congregation dispersed. Bethinking him, then, of 
 Sandy, Zach led his charge over to the Place, and 
 found his shipmate asleep on the very spot where 
 he had left him. 
 
 "Wall, what 's up? " asked the skipper on being 
 aroused. 
 
 " This little girl" - 
 
 "Hello! wher 'd ye pick her up?"
 
 118 ZACHABY PHIP8. 
 
 "She 's lost, and we got to find her folks." 
 
 Sandy yawned again and reflected. 
 
 "Wher d' ye live, sissy?" 
 
 "I live at Basswood." 
 
 " Sho !" commented the skipper, with a puzzled 
 look. "Basswood, eh?" 
 
 "That 's my papa's place." 
 
 "Wall, they forgot to put thet down in my g'og- 
 raphy, so I reckon the best thing we can do, Bub, 
 is to go to the mayor's office." 
 
 No better plan suggesting itself, the three set off, 
 and by dint of repeating mare to every intelligent- 
 looking person, arrived in time at the house of the 
 chief magistrate. 
 
 The official residence proved to be a typical speci- 
 men of the better sort of Spanish dwellings. The 
 ground floor was occupied by the horses, the next 
 above by the hay -mows, while the third, or upper 
 story only was reserved for the owner himself. 
 
 As the mayor had not yet returned from mass, 
 they were given seats in his office. A half hour 
 passed, and a step was heard upon the stairs ; pres- 
 ently the door opened, and there appeared the man 
 whom Zach had seen at the Marionettes. Before 
 the new-comer had time to speak, the child threw 
 herself into his arms with a cry of delight. 
 
 "Papa, oh, papa, I 'm so glad you 've come, for 
 I 'm lost. Mimi lost me; and this good little boy, 
 he found me and took me here ; and this other man," 
 pointing to the skipper, "he 's a friend of the little 
 boy, and he came, too." 
 
 The look of concern with which the stranger en-
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 119 
 
 tered the room quickly gave place to one of relief 
 when he beheld his child alive and well. Taking 
 her in his arms, he looked her all over with careful 
 scrutiny as if to assure himself that she had suffered 
 no harm, listening perfunctorily the while as she 
 told again and again, with infantile persistence, of 
 her visit to the market and the Place with the good 
 little boy. 
 
 "And so this is the good little boy?" said the 
 stranger at last, turning towards Zach and speaking 
 with an English accent, which somehow seemed to 
 accord especially well with his indifferent, half in- 
 dolent manner. 
 
 "I am greatly obliged to you, my lad," he went 
 on, in a tone of quiet condescension which was not 
 without impressiveness, " greatly obliged, I am sure, 
 for the care you took of my little runaway. She 
 was very fortunate to fall into such good hands." 
 
 Drawing from his pocket, as he spoke, a piece of 
 money, he made a move to slip it into Zach's hand. 
 To his boundless astonishment, a hot flush overspread 
 the face of the boy, who snatched his hand away, 
 leaving the coin to fall to the floor. 
 
 "Don't be a fool, Bub ! " put in Sandy. "Don't 
 ever refuse to take hard money when ye can come 
 by it honest! " 
 
 "Take it, you, then! "said the stranger, pointing 
 to the coin. 
 
 "No," said the skipper promptly, " 'twar n't 
 meant for me, an' I hain't done nothin' for it." 
 
 Meantime, Zach, who had edged towards the 
 door, made a sign to Sandy, and lifted the latch.
 
 120 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 Directly, the child, springing from her father's lap, 
 ran to intercept him. 
 
 " Don't go away ! Don't go, little boy ! Tell him 
 not to go, papa! " 
 
 "Wait a bit, my lad! " said the stranger, in the 
 tone of one used to being obeyed. 
 * "Make him come home with us, papa!" whis- 
 pered the little girl, as she climbed again upon her 
 father's knee; "I want him to play with me;" 
 
 The words seemed suggestive to the stranger, for 
 after a minute's silent scrutiny of the pair before 
 him, he suddenly exclaimed, 
 
 "You are sailors, my men?" 
 
 "Wall, gin'rally speakin', you're pooty near 
 right; but jest now we ain't much o' anythin'," an- 
 swered Sandy. 
 
 "You are out of work, then? " 
 
 "Yeah; an' on the lookout for a job." 
 
 The stranger mused for a minute. 
 
 "Are you competent to sail a vessel? " 
 
 "I reckon; anythin' from a man-of-war to a mud- 
 scow." 
 
 "Humph! Can you bring me a good character 
 from your last sailing-master? " 
 
 "No, mister, I can't bring you no character from 
 anybody in this port. I hain't got nothin' to say 
 'bout how we come to be here, neither. The man 
 thet takes us '11 hev to go by looks an' trust his 
 luck, an' ef he ain't willin' to do thet, ther 's no 
 use talkin'." 
 
 Rather favorably impressed, as it seemed, by this 
 blunt confession, the stranger studied the pair with 
 renewed attention.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 121 
 
 "I don't see but that you would answer my pur- 
 pose," he pursued, as if thinking aloud. "I am 
 building a yacht at my plantation in Lake Pont- 
 chartrain, and shall need somebody by and by to 
 sail her. If a larger crew is necessary, we can 
 always work in one or two of the slaves." 
 
 Zach stood waiting in anxious suspense, while 
 Sandy coolly pondered the matter. 
 
 "How big is thet ere lake o' yourn, cap'n? " 
 
 " Forty miles long and half as many wide, in round 
 numbers." 
 
 "Humph!" 
 
 It was another case of fresh water. Sandy was 
 not enthusiastic. The fact that he hesitated, mean- 
 while, had the natural effect of making the stranger 
 more desirous of getting him. 
 
 " Come for a month, at any rate, and make a trial 
 of it!" he urgec}, as he got up and looked at his 
 watch. 
 
 "All right, cap'n, thet 's fair, an' I guess we'll 
 doit; d'ye hear, Bub?" 
 
 Zach let his silence be taken for consent as he 
 stood with the latch in his hand, listening to an elo- 
 quent description of Basswood from the little girl, 
 while her father wrote some directions on a card. 
 
 " If you are of the same mind to-morrow morning, 
 come to me at that address," said the stranger, hand- 
 ing the card. "We set out for home directly after 
 breakfast, and you shall go with us."
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 EARLY next morning, Zach and Sandy betook 
 themselves to the tavern where their new employer 
 lodged. They found him at breakfast with his little 
 daughter, who was perched in a high chair by his 
 side. 
 
 He greeted them civilly, without neglecting the 
 orange he was eating, and contrived to give them the 
 necessary directions for their approaching journey, 
 without for a moment interrupting his table-talk 
 with the loquacious little body at his side. 
 
 "Understand, then: you meet us at the landing," 
 he repeated, as they turned to withdraw. " We go 
 by the Carondelet canal, on account of the luggage. 
 If you do not loiter on the way, you may be there 
 before us, and help Fra^ois, my valet, put the things 
 aboard the boat." 
 
 " All right, cap'n but who " Sandy stopped 
 and scratched his head. 
 
 "True; I am Mr. William Falconer, at your ser- 
 vice, and this is my daughter, Miss Sylvia." 
 
 The child got down from her high chair and 
 gravely curtsied ; then, taking two oranges from the 
 table, she presented one to Sandy and the other 
 noticeably the larger to Zach, saying, 
 
 " I am glad you are coming to live at Basswood, 
 for then you can see our new boat, it is named
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 123 
 
 after me. You '11 like to live at Basswood the best 
 of anywhere you ever, ever lived in the world! " 
 
 The party duly met at the landing, and embarked 
 on the clumsy and not over-clean canal-boat. Mr. 
 Falconer's warning to his new recruits that they 
 would find the journey tedious proved well founded ; 
 floating through the sluggish canal in the wake of 
 the tow-horses was the slowest form of water travel 
 that Sandy had ever experienced. The situation, 
 in fact, proved quite beyond his reach of criticism. 
 He sat gazing at the stagnant water with a look of 
 settled melancholy, save when by chance he raised 
 his eyes and caught sight of the plodding tow-horses 
 driven by a lazy, bare-legged negro, when, hitching 
 in his seat, he swallowed the expletive which rose 
 to his lips, as something altogether inadequate to 
 the occasion. 
 
 His discontent, however, speedily vanished when, 
 upon coming to Lake Pontchartrain, they were met 
 by a cool and invigorating breeze. 
 
 "Ah-h-h!" exclaimed the transformed skipper, 
 turning about and sniffing like an old war-horse at 
 the smell of gunpowder, "there 's salt in that! " 
 
 Zach looked up inquiringly. 
 
 "That 's the sea, Bub, the sea; don't ye smell 
 it? We hain't had a breath like that this many a 
 day!" 
 
 "The sea! " repeated Zach, gazing stupidly at the 
 lake before him. 
 
 "Yes, yonder," interposed Mr. Falconer, pointing, 
 as he spoke, in the opposite direction, to a broad, blue 
 expanse which bounded the southern horizon. "The
 
 124 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 skipper is right ; it is the sea, or rather the Gulf of 
 Mexico, all the same thing." 
 
 Mr. Falconer, as it proved, lived on the straggling 
 isthmus which separates lakes Pontchartrain and 
 Borgne, the latter being in effect an inlet of the 
 Gulf, where he owned a fine sugar plantation. 
 
 Here was a new phase of life for Zach, and matter 
 for wonder on every hand : the broad fields waving 
 with unfamiliar crops; the negroes busily at work 
 among the growing canes with their clumsy hoes ; the 
 slave -quarters, a double row of little cabins which 
 they drove past on the way from the boat ; and chief 
 of all, bounding their vision to the north, the wide- 
 spreading Pontchartrain. 
 
 After a short drive they approached the house. It 
 stood upon rising ground, with a fine greensward 
 sweeping away to the. lake. On the right it was 
 flanked by a thick growth of oranges, lemons, and 
 oleanders; and on the left by a large two-story 
 square dove-cot, the universal appendage of a sugar- 
 planter's house. 
 
 The house itself greatly stirred Zach's curiosity. 
 It was an old Creole structure, which its present 
 owner had enlarged without materially changing. A 
 hodge-podge architecturally, it was perhaps on that 
 account all the more picturesque. Low and ram- 
 bling, with its lower story of brick and the upper of 
 wood, it was furnished on three sides with a broad 
 gallery overhung by the extended roof, which gave 
 it a commodious and hospitable air. The gallery 
 was supported by round brick columns, whose bare- 
 ness was relieved by trellises over which clambered
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 125 
 
 the Cherokee-rose, now white with blossoms. The 
 second story alone was occupied by the family, the 
 ground floor being given up to the slaves. 
 
 Meantime the carriage, winding up the avenue, 
 stopped at last before the hall door, where the steps 
 and the whole lower gallery were crowded with ne- 
 groes of all ages, gathered to welcome their master 
 and young mistress. 
 
 "Let me down, do let me down, quick, papa! " 
 cried the latter, springing from her father 'if arms 
 into the very midst of the expectant throng. 
 
 "Children, oh, children," she went on, including 
 in the term hearers of all ages, "I 've got such beau- 
 tiful things for you. Ribbons for you, Fifine, nice 
 red ones; some yellow ones for you, Zenobie, to 
 wear with your new yellow frock; a turban for you, 
 mammy; a silver thimble for you, Lisette; some 
 beads for you, Sappho ; and candy for the pickanin- 
 nies. Wait till they bring my box, there it is ! 
 there it is now, and that is the new boy helping to 
 carry it. That is Zach ; he found me when Mimi 
 lost me. It was very bad of Mimi, but she cried and 
 said she did n't mean to, and so papa did n't sell her. 
 That big tall man over there is Sandy, he is Zach's 
 friend; they are sailors, and they are going to sail 
 papa's new boat." 
 
 While -Sylvia was thus flying about among the 
 women, chattering like a magpie, her father, after 
 returning the greetings of his servants, talked apart 
 with a middle-aged mulatto whom he presently in- 
 troduced to Zach and Sandy. 
 
 "This, boys, is my steward Gabriel; he will look
 
 126 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 
 
 out for you, and by and by, when I get time, I will 
 take you down and show you the boat." 
 
 Zach was relieved to find that Mr. Falconer's 
 house-servants, although they had French names, 
 for the most part talked English, having been 
 brought from Nassau, where their master had other 
 large plantations. 
 
 When the dinner-hour arrived, the new recruits 
 were ushered into a room on the ground floor, where 
 seats kad been assigned them at the servants' table. 
 Glancing at the two long rows of dusky faces gath- 
 ered at the board, Zach flushed violently, and 
 marched out of the house. 
 
 Sandy, thinking only of satisfying his hunger, sat 
 quietly down, well aware of the fact that he had 
 often met with worse fare and rougher company. 
 Not unnaturally a little merriment, half stifled in the 
 sleeves of the younger fry over Zach's exit, broke 
 forth into a loud titter on Sandy's calling out, 
 
 "Oh, come back, Bub! Come along an' git yer 
 grub ! They won't bite ye ! " 
 
 Giving no lieed to the admonition, Zach went 
 and sulked in the gallery. Here, as it chanced, 
 Gabriel came upon him, and inquired what was the 
 matter. 
 
 "I ain't goin' to eat in there with them," said 
 Zach, pouting. 
 
 " Whar, den, d' ye spec fer to eat, honey? "asked 
 Gabriel, not without a touch of satire. 
 
 "Don' know, 'n' don't care," muttered Zach. 
 
 "Mebbe yo' spec ter eat upstars wid de gran- 
 dees."
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 127 
 
 "None o' your business what I expect," fired up 
 Zach, walking off upon the lawn. 
 
 "Look a-yer, now, honey, lemrae give yo' a word 
 o' wisdom! Ef yo' want suffin' ter eat, yo' '11 eat 
 it, whar 't is, 'n' ef yo' lef it, yo' 's gwine ter go 
 hungry; mind dat now, honey! " 
 
 "I '11 starve to death 'fore I '11 eat with niggers," 
 flared up Zach, whirling around defiantly upon Ga- 
 briel. 
 
 "All right, honey; jes sot right ter work! No- 
 body ain't gwine for ter hinder." 
 
 With these words the major-domo went his way, 
 leaving Zach to his own devices. Throwing himself 
 on the grass at the foot of a tree, the pouting young- 
 ster raised his eyes and received a shock. There, 
 just above him in the gallery, smoking his after- 
 dinner cigar, sat Falconer, within easy earshot of 
 the late conversation-. 
 
 Zach dropped his head in dismay, and waited for 
 the expected storm of disapproval to manifest it- 
 self. After a long interval he again stole a glance 
 upward. Falconer had disappeared. Feeling sure 
 that measures were being taken for his punishment, 
 Zach started up as if with an impulse to escape, but 
 restrained by a feeling of pride, he lay down again, 
 and nerved himself to meet the consequences. 
 
 They were not long in developing. An old ne- 
 gress in a yellow turban presently approached from 
 the direction of the kitchen, bearing a heaped-up 
 plate of dinner, which she coaxingly beguiled him to 
 eat. 
 
 Other results of Zach's rebellion followed, equally
 
 128 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 agreeable and equally puzzling to him. Next day 
 Gabriel, evidently under orders which he executed 
 with no very good grace, quartered the new crew in 
 the loft over the boat-house, which he hastily fitted 
 up for their reception with a couple of pallet beds, 
 a table, and some stools. Their meals, he informed 
 them a little sulkily, were to be brought down to 
 them from the house. 
 
 Zach was scarcely more delighted at the change 
 than Sandy. The loft was big and empty, and, al- 
 though it had no window, opened at the gable-end 
 with a wide door upon the lake, which gave them not 
 only plenty of air, but an unobstructed view of the 
 water. 
 
 They had scarcely got settled in their new quar- 
 ters when Sylvia made her appearance. She showed 
 no disposition to neglect her new friends. Every 
 day, after lessons, she came with Mimi to the boat- 
 house. She brought thither her dolls and all the 
 paraphernalia of dolldom. Indeed, as presently ap- 
 peared, she took a far greater delight in playing 
 on the cramped little gallery crowded with boating 
 gear, than on the spacious corridors at home. Sandy 
 at first grumbled a good deal at having the place 
 littered with "women's fixin's," but the busy little 
 lady soon silenced the growler by taking him into 
 her confidence and appealing to him, when Zach 
 gave stupid advice as to the health or management 
 of her numerous family. 
 
 Zach, as it proved, often gave stupid advice, and 
 Sylvia had frequent occasion to lecture him. 
 
 His docility under this discipline, and his general
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 129 
 
 submission to the whims of his fair little tyrant, 
 were matters of much wonder to the skipper, mind- 
 ful of his own experience of certain stubborn traits 
 in the character of his comrade. 
 
 But as he presently discovered, the leopard had 
 not so quickly changed his spots. 
 
 The children were seated one day on the boat- 
 house gallery ; Sylvia looking on while Zach made 
 a gum-tree dugout. 
 
 " Would you be afraid if a great big whale should 
 come right out of the lake to eat you up? " 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Did you ever see a whale? " 
 
 "No." 
 
 "How do you know you wouldn't be afraid, 
 then?" 
 
 "'Cos I would n't." , 
 
 "Are you afraid of anything? " 
 
 "I guess not." 
 
 "Not of the dark?" 
 
 "Ho, no! " contemptuously. 
 
 "/ am, and I'm afraid of whales, too. Mimi 
 says there are great big ones in the lake with mouths 
 as big, as big as that!" measuring with her 
 hands, "and that they will jump out of the water 
 and eat me right up, if I come down here alone! " 
 
 "Mimi is a liar!" 
 
 "Oh, you naughty boy! That's a bad, wicked 
 word!" 
 
 "What is?" 
 
 "What you said." . 
 
 Zach made no defense of his language, but took
 
 130 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 refuge from further criticism in silence. His com- 
 panion, however, did not leave him long at rest. 
 
 "Is that for me?" 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "That boat you 're making." 
 
 "'T ain't for anybody." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "'Cos it won't be good for anythin'." 
 
 "It '11 be good enough for me, an' I want it." 
 
 "Well, you can have it, then." 
 
 "Here comes Mimi! She's comin' to take me 
 home. You can come, too, and eat dinner with 
 us." 
 
 "I don't want to." 
 
 " Papa won ' t care. ' ' 
 
 The boat-maker shook his head. 
 
 "But you'll have to come when it is my birth- 
 day." 
 
 There was another and emphatic shake of the 
 head. 
 
 "You must!" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "I shall be very, very angry, then." 
 
 There was no answer. 
 
 "Why won't you come? " 
 
 "'Cos I don't want to." 
 
 "That isn't a reason." 
 
 The whittler made no comment. 
 
 "That isn't a good reason. Do you hear? Why 
 don't you speak? Papa says I may have a party on 
 my birthday, so you must come. Stop shaking your 
 head, naughty Zach I Now, hark ! I am going to
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 131 
 
 ask you very nicely, the way I ask papa for things : 
 Please, Zach, will you come to my party? " 
 
 "No." 
 
 These stubborn moods were all the more puzzling 
 to Sylvia, for being in such marked contrast to her 
 companion's every-day humor. His indulgence for 
 her caprices was indeed well-nigh boundless, and his 
 resources not a few. He personated at command 
 all the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, 
 now flapping his wings and crowing like a cock, now 
 fetching and carrying sticks like a dog and barking 
 at Mimi, now suffering himself to be harnessed for 
 a horse and dragging his delighted playmate about 
 with such speed and vigor that her donkey was well- 
 nigh superseded. 
 
 In their comings and goings it chanced that they 
 occasionally encountered Falconer, who took no other 
 note of them than to bestow an absent-minded smile 
 upon his daughter. 
 
 Meanwhile the constant mention of Zach's name 
 in the schoolroom at last aroused Mrs. Mason, the 
 fat English governess, to the fact that this new play- 
 mate was becoming a very important personage in 
 the life of her young charge. Wherefore, like a 
 prudent woman, she thought it well to visit the 
 boat-house, and see for herself whether he was an 
 eligible companion. 
 
 It chanced that on the afternoon of Mrs. Mason's 
 visit Zach was lying on the grass outside the boat- 
 house, smoking his pipe. As he did not get up and 
 bow at her approach, nor take off his hat, nor re- 
 move his pipe, it was evident that he was shockingly
 
 132 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 ill-bred. Mrs. Mason looked about, hesitated, and 
 at last, in much doubt, asked, 
 
 "Can it be er are you the new boy? " 
 
 "Yeah, I guess I be." 
 
 "Is your name Zach? " 
 
 "Yes, marm," said the smoker, first calmly spit- 
 ting out a mouthful of tobacco-juice to give play to 
 his vocal organs. 
 
 " Oh ! er ah, indeed ! " commented the horror- 
 stricken governess, turning away. 
 
 "D' you want anythin'? " 
 
 "Nothing at all," was the decided answer. 
 
 Thereupon returning with precipitancy to the 
 house, Mrs. Mason forbade the dismayed Sylvia 
 "ever to go again to the boat-house, or play any 
 more with that dreadful, low, vulgar little boy! " 
 
 Being busied next day helping Sandy stretch the 
 new sails on the yacht, Zach had no leisure to re- 
 mark Sylvia's absence. But when another day 
 passed, and still another, and she did not come, he 
 plainly began to grow uneasy. This feeling was con- 
 firmed by a remark carelessly let fall by Sandy on 
 coming upon a forgotten doll on the window-ledge. 
 
 "I say, Bub," said the skipper, tenderly taking 
 the puppet in his rough hand, "I guess the little gal 
 must be sick." 
 
 Zach looked startled. He did not answer, but 
 went out and sat on the landing and brooded over 
 the matter. At last, seized by a sudden impulse, he 
 hurried away on the pretext of getting some oil for 
 the lantern. 
 
 Approaching the house, he was conscious of sev-
 
 ZACUASY PHIPS. 133 
 
 eral persons in the upper gallery. Keeping his 
 eyes fixed upon the ground, he hurried along to the 
 kitchen door. As he returned across the lawn, he 
 was discovered and hailed from the gallery. It was 
 Sylvia's voice that called. 
 
 He stopped and looked up. There was a commo- 
 tion on the gallery. A family discussion was going 
 on, of which Zach guessed himself to be the subject. 
 Mrs. Mason's deep contralto was heard in shocked 
 tones of expostulation. With this alternated Fal- 
 coner's resonant baritone in a long duet. 
 
 Meanwhile Sylvia, in contempt of all objection, 
 rushed down the stairs and went bounding to her 
 friend, who awaited her coming with an expression 
 oddly compounded of pride and delight. He sur- 
 rendered to the impulsive grasp of the little maid, 
 who coaxed him to stay and play with her. He cast 
 a deprecating look at the gallery. Matters there 
 had reached a crisis: Mrs. Mason, in consequence 
 of some remark of the planter, was in the act of 
 retiring in high dudgeon. 
 
 Shrewdly interpreting this little scene, Sylvia 
 seized Zach's arm, and despite his reluctance drew 
 him to a seat on the lower gallery. Falconer noted 
 the movement without comment. In the stillness of 
 the summer afternoon, the voices of the children 
 could be easily heard where he sat. At another 
 time their words might have passed unheeded, but 
 now, with the strictures of the governess still sound- 
 ing in his ears, he purposely dropped his book and 
 listened. 
 
 "You are not a low, vulgar boy, are you, Zach?"
 
 134 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 asked Sylvia. Although the listener could not see 
 the hot blood surge over Zach's face, and the big 
 drops of sweat stand out on his forehead, the fact 
 that the question went unanswered was significant. 
 
 "Are you? " persisted the ingenuous little ques- 
 tioner, busily plaiting some strands of long grass as 
 she talked. 
 
 "I don't know," answered Zach, huskily. 
 
 "What makes you smoke a pipe, and spit on the 
 ground, and keep on your hat when ladies speak to 
 you?" 
 
 Again there was a silence. 
 
 "P'raps your mother never told you not to." 
 
 "I hain't got any mother." 
 
 "So I haven't got any mother, too; but I did 
 have one, only I never saw her. Please go and pick 
 me some more grass to braid ! " 
 
 Zach went mechanically and did as he was bid. 
 Meantime his companion's thoughts had taken a 
 turn. 
 
 "What are you going to be, Zach, when you 
 grow up? " 
 
 The boy sat sorting the blades of grass with a 
 look of profound preoccupation, and did not answer. 
 
 "You going to be a sailor?" 
 
 He nodded absently. 
 
 "On a big, big ship?" 
 
 He nodded again. 
 
 "I shouldn't like to be a sailor;" the prattler 
 paused to adjust a refractory strand ; "a sailor wears 
 such bad clothes, and has such dirty hands." 
 
 Casting a downward glance upon his coarse boots
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 135 
 
 and trousers, Zach thrust his begrimed hands into 
 his pockets. 
 
 " / should like to be a man like papa, and have 
 nice white hands and wear clean clothes and live in 
 a big house and have lots of people to work, would- 
 n't you?" 
 
 "No! " was the fierce answer. " I 'd rather be just 
 what I am, an' nothin' else." 
 
 With these words he sprang from the bench where 
 he had been sitting, and hurried off in the direction 
 of the boat-house. 
 
 An amused look shone in Falconer's eyes as he 
 gazed after the indignant boy, and, yielding to a 
 passing impulse, he peeped over the railing at his 
 daughter below. She sat with the half-finished 
 braid in her hand, gazing after her companion with 
 a look of profound astonishment. 
 
 After a few minutes' reflection, she came upstairs 
 and, leaning over her father's shoulder, asked, 
 
 " Papa, would you rather be a sailor than to be 
 you?" 
 
 "No, my pet." 
 
 "And I wouldn't rather be Mimi than to be me. 
 I guess everybody would rather be himself than 
 somebody else."
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 HAVING finished the equipment of the yacht to 
 his mind, and thoroughly tested her sailing quali- 
 ties, Sandy sent word to his employer that she was 
 ready for service. The planter promptly appeared 
 for a trial trip. The wind was fluky, and the con- 
 ditions for speed were not at the best, but on the 
 whole the boat behaved well, and the skipper showed 
 an easy mastery over her which did not escape the 
 eye of the owner. He looked pleased, or, to speak 
 more correctly, he did not look displeased, a distinc- 
 tion of value to those with whom his moods were 
 important. 
 
 Thenceforth Sandy found his place no sinecure. 
 The yacht was called into requisition whenever the 
 weather permitted, and like a new toy proved a val- 
 uable resource to the owner and his guests against 
 the tedium of plantation life. Sylvia, who was usu- 
 ally of the party, soon found herself very much at 
 home on the deck of her namesake. 
 
 By such constant exercise, Zach made rapid strides 
 in seamanship. Although conservative in his praises, 
 Sandy let fall a dry word now and then which showed 
 no little pride in his pupil's advancement. 
 
 It turned out, however, that besides zeal for 
 Zach' s advancement, there was another and deeper 
 purpose underlying the skipper's action, a purpose
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 137 
 
 which Zach found not a little discomposing when 
 his companion unguardedly let it out. 
 
 It was one evening, as they sat on the landing 
 puffing their pipes and watching the swaying masts 
 of the yacht, as she lay athwart the long white track 
 of the moonlight. 
 
 "Bub," began Sandy, knocking out his ashes 
 preparatory to a fresh charge, "ye 're gittin' most 
 growed up, ain't ye?" 
 
 "I ain't more 'n half way up to your shoulder, 
 yet." 
 
 "Oh, wall, ye don't want to pattern after no such 
 run-to-seed pigweed as I be. I 'm overgrowed ; I 
 war n't looked after when I was a youngster, an' I 
 kep' on a-growin' 'cos I didn't know enough to 
 stop. No, ye 're wall enough off for size. Then 
 agin ye 're beginnin' to hev some sense, an' are get- 
 tin' more handy 'bout the boat." 
 
 Zach looked inquiringly at the speaker, but could 
 not make his face out in the darkness. 
 
 "No," pursued Sandy, "th' ain't nothin' lackin' 
 to ye now 'cept time." 
 
 The listener coughed deprecatingly, but could 
 think of nothing to say to such an unexpected 
 tribute. 
 
 "Ye can handle that little critter," waving his 
 pipe towards the yacht, "as good as I can, any day 
 in the week." 
 
 "Ho! " ejaculated Zach, forced into a protest by 
 such extravagance. 
 
 "I know wot I 'm talkin' 'bout. I kep an eye on 
 ye to-day, an' I say I can't larn ye no more 'bout
 
 138 ZACHARY PUIPS. 
 
 this kind o' navigation. Ye '11 hev to git the rest 
 for yerself, jes' by hard knocks. That 's the way a 
 man gits the best o' wot he knows. Nobody ever 
 larns anythin' from anybody else's hard knocks. 
 He don't feel 'em, an' he don't b'lieve in 'em till ho 
 gits knocked himself. Yes, Bub, ye 've got to hev 
 yer own scars to swear by, an' ye '11 git 'em fast 
 enough, never fear. Thet 's wot we was all made 
 for, I reckon : jes' to see how much knockin' down 
 we could stan' up under. Wall, now, that bein' the 
 case, I mought as well cast off one time as another." 
 
 "What d' you mean by cast off ? " 
 
 "Wall, it 's jest here, Bub: this critter's like a 
 little sandpeep, it 's kind o' child's business hand- 
 lin' of her. It 's all right for you, but th' ain't no 
 kind o' need o' me here." 
 
 "What, you ain't goin' away, be yer? " 
 
 "I dunno 's I be, 'n' I dunno 's I ain't. I ben a 
 thinkin', that 's all." 
 
 "Where be you goin' to?" 
 
 "When it comes to that, young un, I can't go 
 now'eres till I start, an' I ain't started yit." 
 
 Zach was silent for several minutes. Meantime, 
 the fact that his pipe went out showed the effect 
 upon him of the skipper's disturbing words. With 
 an affectation of calmness worthy of an adult, he 
 presently asked, 
 
 "What makes you want to go away? " 
 
 " Wall, Bub, fust an' foremost, I like my water 
 salt. I ben used to it, 'n' I git tired o' this puddle 
 business. Then agin but, ez I said afore, I ain't 
 sayln' anythin', I 'm jest a-thinkin'. We 're all on
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 139 
 
 us thinkin', 'n' a precious good deal on it never 
 comes to nothin'." 
 
 "Where d' ye want to go to? " pursued Zach, too 
 much stirred up to drop the matter. 
 
 "I ain't picked out no spot, fact is, I don't care 
 much; but I tell ye 'twould n't do for anybody to 
 offer me a two-year cruise 'n' expect I should be 
 bashful 'bout clinchin' the bargain." 
 
 "When d' yer expect to go?" persisted Zach. 
 
 "Look a-here, Bub! what 's the matter with ye? 
 Expect! I don't expect anythin', any time, any- 
 whar; I 'm thinkin', 1 tell ye, 'n' th' ain't nothin' 
 more to be said 'bout it, one way or t' other." 
 
 Zach asked no more questions, but it was clear 
 enough from his manner that he thought Sandy had 
 said too much or not enough. 
 
 The next week Falconer had a visitor, whom Zach 
 remarked at first only as a small, sallow man with 
 a French accent. He was destined, however, to see 
 much of the new-comer, for, on his account, as it ap- 
 peared, Falconer suddenly renewed his waning in- 
 terest in yachting, and the two went sailing nearly 
 every day. Seeing them together thus constantly, 
 it presently began to dawn upon Zach that the 
 planter treated his guest with much consideration, 
 and that the stranger himself had an air of intelli- 
 gence out of all proportion to his insignificant per- 
 sonal appearance. 
 
 Falconer invariably called his guest, "Monsieur," 
 a name which Zach soon discovered was used rather 
 as a term of endearment than respect. For the
 
 140 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 rest, it soon transpired in the conversation that the 
 stranger was a noted lawyer from New Orleans, and 
 at once the business adviser and the intimate friend 
 of his host. In the talk between the two, which 
 was at first mainly upon business, Zach's attention 
 was aroused by the frequent mention of Nassau and 
 of Falconer's estates upon the island of New Provi- 
 dence. And in this connection, Zach overheard a 
 little scrap of their conversation which he had griev- 
 ous occasion long afterwards to recall. Falconer 
 was talking with some enthusiasm about his agent 
 in Nassau, when Monsieur casually asked his namo. 
 
 "Woodbine," said the planter. 
 
 Monsieur replied by a low, long whistle. 
 
 "Eh! What now?" 
 
 "How long have you employed him? " 
 
 "About three months." 
 
 "Did you ever happen to hear his nickname?" 
 
 "How should I?" 
 
 "He is universally known by the sobriquet of 
 'Notorious Woodbine.' ' 
 
 The two men exchanged looks. Falconer's face 
 darkened, and the subject was dropped. 
 
 Meanwhile Zach himself was destined to become 
 better acquainted with the restless little lawyer, for 
 one day, during the absence of Falconer and Sandy 
 on an expedition to Lake Borgne, he came down to 
 the landing and requested to be taken out. Zach 
 got under way and took him for a run up the lake. 
 Lacking older company, Monsieur talked to Zach. 
 It seemed necessary to his comfort that he should 
 talk to somebody, and Zach was far enough from
 
 ZACHABY PII1PS. 141 
 
 taking exception. At first, busied with his duty 
 as skipper, he did not give scrupulous heed to what 
 was said. Gradually, however, he was drawn on to 
 listen, and ended by being absorbed and well-nigh 
 spellbound by the stranger's eloquence. Save only 
 the unapproachable Burr, Zach had never heard 
 anything like him. His head seemed packed so 
 full of knowledge that everything which fell from 
 his lips had point and value. 
 
 Beginning with the yacht, Monsieur passed nat- 
 urally to the Mississippi, and waxed eloquent, de- 
 scribing to his open-mouthed auditor the manner of 
 its discovery, and the famous men, De Soto, Hen- 
 nepin, Marquette, Joliet, and La Salle, who were 
 concerned in it. He dwelt upon their zeal, their 
 devotion, the incredible hardships they endured, 
 their hairbreadth escapes, their thrilling adventures, 
 until Zach's eyes kindled, his blood quickened,^ and 
 his breath came quick and short. 
 
 This was not stuff to pass into one ear and out the 
 other. It gained lodgment in heart and brain. It 
 rekindled certain old inflammable material which 
 had lain smouldering since the memorable days of 
 the expedition. The result was a natural longing 
 for the stranger to reappear. Happily for Zach, 
 chance brought about what he so much wished. 
 Falconer was housed several days by a slight illness. 
 Thrown upon his own resources, Monsieur spent 
 much of his time upon the water. 
 
 With Sandy to manage the boat, Zach had more 
 leisure to listen. Monsieur did not fail to talk, and 
 it was always of something new : stories of the Indian
 
 142 ZACHARY PHIPS, 
 
 wars, stories of famous hunters and their exploits, 
 stories of Captain Kidd and the bold buccaneers of 
 the Spanish main. 
 
 Upon the listener the effect of this talk was that 
 of being suddenly lifted to a mountain's peak; it 
 resulted in an inspiring enlargement of vision, in 'an 
 opening up of boundless race-courses for the im- 
 agination. An unsuspected past unfolded in vast 
 perspective behind, a future teeming with untold 
 possibilities loomed mistily before. 
 
 Naturally, Monsieur could not be blind to the 
 effect his talk produced. Flattered by such breath- 
 less attention, he in turn was led to take more than a 
 passing interest in his listener. He questioned Zach 
 about himself, rather perfunctorily it is true, but 
 with the result that he voluntarily promised, upon 
 his next visit, to bring to his young friend books in 
 which he might read these and other marvels for 
 himself. 
 
 Meantime, something happened which caused a 
 great sensation at Basswood, and drove Monsieur 
 and his bewitching stories out of mind. Sylvia 
 came skipping down to the boat-house one day, her 
 eyes big with excitement, carrying her largest and 
 finest doll, which she solemnly placed in Zach's 
 arms with the startling admonition, 
 
 "There, take her! and if I never, never come 
 back, you must be her mother! " 
 
 Zach, holding in a gingerly way the finely-clad 
 Parisian puppet, looked dumfounded. 
 
 "We're going away, papa and I, and Mrs. 
 Mason and Mimi, away off to Nassau, and papa
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 143 
 
 says I must not take Elaine because she would be 
 seasick, and so so you must take care of her." 
 
 Between surprise at the news and consternation 
 at the grave responsibility thus suddenly thrust upon 
 him, Zach could not bring forth a word. 
 
 "You must be very careful about her food, and 
 take her out riding every day, and rock her to sleep 
 nights ; and when she is naughty you must put her in 
 the corner, only," went on the excited child, with a 
 warning forefinger, "you mustn't leave her there, 
 on account of spiders; and and you must keep 
 her clothes nice, and you must be good to her, and 
 take her up when she cries, and give her nice things 
 to play with." 
 
 Bewildered with these profuse instructions, the 
 unhappy Zach stood helplessly dandling the doll in 
 his arms and looking about for a place in which to 
 bestow it, while the busy prattler, all unconscious of 
 his distress, continued : , 
 
 "Mimi is bringing down her bed, an' you can 
 put it next to yours, so you can hear her when she 
 cries. See, there she comes! Mimi! Mimi! Now, 
 if you are tired, I will take her. Come to me, 
 Elaine ! See, you must hold her up to you, so ; not 
 way off like that." 
 
 Relieved of his embarrassing charge, Zach began 
 to ponder the news, and asked huskily, 
 
 "Where is Nassau?" 
 
 "Why, it is our other home, don't you know? 
 and papa has another house there, and lots of people, 
 and there are beautiful flowers ; but it will not be 
 so good as Bass wood, for we shall not have you and 
 Sandy and The Sylvia."
 
 144 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 A call from Falconer broke up the conversation, 
 and the ecstatic child went hopping and skipping 
 away, leaving Zach in a turmoil of emotions. 
 
 Henceforth all was bustle up at the mansion, and 
 the stir of preparation was felt in a greater or less 
 degree all over the plantation. 
 
 Although, as Zach heard from the slaves, the 
 planter's visits to Nassau were periodical, and 
 usually limited to a few weeks, he made his arrange- 
 ments as carefully as for a long absence. An 
 experienced superintendent was left in charge of the 
 plantation, Gabriel had control of the house and 
 offices, while all was to be under the general super- 
 vision of Monsieur, for whom rooms were provided 
 at the mansion whenever it pleased him to spend a 
 few days at the plantation. 
 
 Hearing nothing from the planter, the crew im- 
 agined themselves forgotten, but on the morning of 
 his departure Falconer came down to the landing 
 for a final word. 
 
 "Good-by, boys," he said; "look out for the boat, 
 and keep things shipshape ! Monsieur may want a 
 sail when he comes down. Call on the superinten- 
 dent for anything you need. Good-by ; perhaps my 
 next visit to Nassau may be made in The Sylvia." 
 
 An hour later a message came to Zach from his 
 little playmate that he was to accompany them to the 
 vessel to see them off. Once on board ship, that 
 agitated little person flew about between her father, 
 Mrs. Mason, and Mimi, with questions, warnings, 
 and injunctions to take care of her bird, her dog, 
 and her traveling doll, the smallest of her family,
 
 ZACHARY PH1PS. 145 
 
 which, with much reluctance, Falconer had been 
 obliged to admit of the party. 
 
 When the last moment came, and Zach was or- 
 dered ashore, Sylvia, who in her excitement had not 
 realized that they must part, broke forth in tragic 
 tone, 
 
 "Papa, papa! make Zach come, too ! Oh, papa, 
 cannot Zach go with us? " 
 
 Falconer, busy with some last hurried directions 
 to Monsieur, answered impatiently, 
 
 "No, no, darling! Go away! Do not tease 
 papa now! " 
 
 The little lip trembled, the small bosom heaved, 
 and a flood of tears rolled down her cheeks as she 
 watched Zach reluctantly pass over the gang-plank. 
 Then, as he turned to take a last look, a little tear- 
 choked voice called out, 
 
 "Don't cry, Zach! I'm coming back soon. 
 Take care of Elaine, an-an-and give her a ki-ki- 
 kiss for me! " 
 
 That evening, when Sandy went stumbling up to 
 bed, he found his companion sitting at the open 
 door of the loft holding something in his arms. 
 
 "Hullo, Bub, wot ye got there?" 
 
 Receiving no answer, the skipper approached and 
 recognized the waxen features and rigid figure of 
 Elaine. 
 
 "Wall, I'm"- 
 
 Finishing his exclamation with a soft whistle, the 
 astonished skipper forgot his purpose of turning in, 
 and went down to have another pipe on the gallery.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 WHAT with the house shut up, the family gone, 
 and Zach in the dumps, Sandy began to find time 
 hang heavy on his hands. He lounged about the 
 landing, stretched his long legs in the gallery, 
 smoked innumerable pipes, yawning between whiles, 
 until he well-nigh unhinged his huge under jaw, and 
 saved himself from utter mental collapse by venting 
 cynicisms upon an unheeding world. 
 
 As time wore on, the tedium grew more paralyz- 
 ing. Day after day passed, unmarked by an event, 
 and night brought relief only because it brought 
 oblivion. Finding things at home so irksome, as a 
 natural result the skipper posted off to town for dis- 
 traction. In his preoccupation Zach took little heed 
 of his companion's movements, and was therefore 
 all the more surprised when, one day, Sandy came 
 home with an air which, for him, might be called 
 bustling, and began to pack up his traps. 
 
 "What you doin'?" 
 
 "Histin' anchor, Bub." 
 
 "Goin' away? " 
 
 "I reckon." 
 
 "On a cruise?" 
 
 " A reg'lar old-timer." 
 
 "When? where?" asked the bewildered Zach. 
 
 " Wall, Bub, for ivhen ye may say instanter, soon
 
 ZACH ART PHI PS. 147 
 
 as we git the cargo stowed; for where, that 's a horse 
 of another color, from this to St. Kitts, an' from 
 there to the Lord knows where." 
 
 There was, then, no doubt; Sandy was really 
 going. Straightway every other subject for fancy 
 or reflection was lost sight of in the overwhelming 
 thought. Recovering presently from his first dis- 
 may, Zach feebly clutched at a straw of compromise : 
 he too would go. 
 
 " 'T ain't no use, Bub ; I thought of it, but 't ain't 
 no kind o' use; they wouldn't look at ye. This is 
 no foolin' business, it 's hard service afore the mast, 
 'n' the captain 's a tough un, by all accounts. No, 
 Bub, your nest here is all feathered, 'n' ye jest bet- 
 ter stick to it. I shall turn up agin one o' these 
 day^, ef I don't go to the bottom, 'n' ef I do, 't 
 won't be no great loss. Mebbe ye '11 be big enough 
 to go next time, but fer now ye 'd jest better hold 
 hard to yer anchorage." 
 
 Zach said no more, but silently lent a hand, and 
 next morning, before light, set off with Sandy to 
 the city, and duly saw him aboard the Josephine, a 
 three-master bound for the Antilles with a cargo of 
 lumber. 
 
 Their leave-taking was cut short by the captain, 
 who, coming by chance upon his new recruit loiter- 
 ing on the dock, roughly ordered him aboard ; so at 
 the last it was a hurried grip of the hand, and a 
 "Bear up, hearty! " and all was over. 
 
 Although Sandy was too busy to take further 
 heed of him, Zach lingered aimlessly on the dock 
 until the vessel weighed anchor and sailed slowly 
 away towards the blue waters of the Gulf.
 
 148 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 Going back was like a return to a wilderness. 
 Every human being in whom he had any interest 
 was gone. Instead of making good their loss, he 
 sought, as it seemed, a solitude more absolute by 
 fleeing from all possible contact with his kind. 
 Every morning, fair or foul, he spread wide the 
 sails of his boat, and flew out over the lake on as 
 wild-winged and aimless a flight as that of the sea- 
 birds which, floating over from the Gulf, circled 
 and hovered above him in his course. 
 
 There, at the centre of his little sea, he floated 
 secure from interruption, and gave way to his mus- 
 ings. 
 
 Doubtless, so speedily does the egoist develop 
 from the recluse, these were not without bitter- 
 ness. To sweeten his cup of home-made gall ttere 
 haply came remembrances of that tear-choked voice 
 calling good-by to him from the Nassau packet, and 
 of Sandy's stanch and cheery farewell. 
 
 To these forebodings upon his own situation and 
 its outcome succeeded presently thoughts better 
 worth while, thoughts upon a familiar old topic 
 loosely called life. Not altogether profitless specu- 
 lation, for in his intellectual flounderings the poor 
 boy caught some glimmering side-lights on divers 
 wholesome truths never before dreamt of in his 
 philosophy. There are, moreover, good reasons, 
 not here to be set forth, for believing that during 
 these solitary days he underwent, for the second 
 time in his short life, a spiritual, or more properly 
 a mental, awakening consequent upon the new and 
 vigorous impulse which had been given to his specu-
 
 ZACIIARY mips. 149 
 
 lations by the talk of Monsieur. Day by clay the 
 lonely little sailor pondered these stirring tales, with 
 a quickened movement of the blood and a curious 
 creeping of the flesh which he could by no means 
 account for. Who were they, then, these old 
 pioneers and heroes? Were they of a different 
 race and kind from the men he had known? Had 
 any of them, perchance, come from humble folk and 
 sordid surroundings? What, moreover, had they 
 left to do in the world? Had they not achieved all 
 the noble things? Had not indeed the grand and 
 heroic element departed from life ? What sign of it 
 could be found in yonder dirty, busy, chattering, 
 chaffering little town, with its hodge-podge of races, 
 religions, and aims? 
 
 These recluse habits and solitary communings 
 served but to make wider the gulf between Zach 
 and the household. The slaves found the young 
 skipper distant and moody, and after*Sandy went 
 away, they avoided the boat-house and landing ; the 
 superintendent and Gabriel were too busy to think 
 of him, and thus Zach was left to his own devices. 
 As for Monsieur, save for one or two flying trips 
 upon business, it was many months before he found 
 leisure to make a regular visit at Basswood. 
 
 In all this time Zach had heard no news of the 
 travelers. From the talk among the slaves, when- 
 ever he went to the house, he gathered that the fam- 
 ily had already long outstayed the limit originally 
 fixed for their visit. Still other weeks and months 
 flew by, and no preparations were made for their 
 reception. Windows and blinds remained shut, the
 
 150 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 vines ran riot over the trellises, dust collected in 
 the long galleries, and spiders held high carnival in 
 the countless "coignes of vantage" afforded by the 
 capitals of the brick pillars. 
 
 These busy usurpers were destined, as it seemed, 
 to acquire prescriptive rights, for one morning came 
 Monsieur on his long-deferred visit, bringing news 
 that Falconer and Sylvia had gone from Nassau to 
 England for a stay of indefinite duration. 
 
 This dismaying report made Zach feel like an 
 outcast. Henceforth, with regard to the world and 
 his own kind, he felt himself unattached and alien. 
 There seemed no longer anything in common be- 
 tween him and the rest of the universe, save that 
 physical bond of gravitation which he had heard 
 Monsieur describe. One by one all the moral ties, 
 the ties of service, obligation, and fellowship, had 
 dissolved, and left him feeling almost giddy in his 
 isolation. "Biie future, too, which yesterday seemed 
 so possible, so sharply defined, had in a trice be- 
 come a remote and befogged uncertainty. He 
 realized now that the long-deferred day of home- 
 coming had in his mind been unconsciously invested 
 with the value of an epoch. 
 
 Notwithstanding his former liking for Monsieur, 
 this visit of the restless attorney proved an embar- 
 rassment to the little hermit. During his months of 
 solitude he had so warped away from his own kind 
 that his manners had become constrained, and his 
 very voice grown rusty from disuse. Moreover, 
 Monsieur was not one to be put off with half -atten- 
 tion. He was the same alert, exacting little man
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 151 
 
 as before. He demanded of the young skipper 
 nimble service, constant companionship, and watch- 
 ful attendance. 
 
 Although the visitor avowed that he had come to 
 Basswood for rest, he seemed resolved to defeat this 
 purpose by a tireless activity. Especially his tongue 
 knew no moment of repose. Zach often wondered 
 whether, when alone, he talked to himself. The 
 irksomeness of the intrusion once over, however, 
 when, as it were, Zach had been shaken back into 
 a normal state of fraternity, he began as before to 
 take an interest in his companion's talk, and having 
 once yielded* to the spell, it carried him swiftly 
 on to his former unbounded admiration. 
 
 Remembering his old promise, Monsieur one day 
 appeared at the landing with a volume of Plutarch's 
 Lives. Here was a beginning of new things. Re- 
 turned from the sail and seated in the doorway of 
 the boat-house, with Elaine propped up against the 
 wall at his side, his inseparable pipe in his lips, 
 Zach spent the long afternoon over the enchanting 
 book. He talked of it next day with Monsieur. He 
 stared in astonishment when told that they were not 
 made-up stories, those marvelous tales, but sober 
 facts, for whatever Monsieur's real opinion with 
 regard to them, he solemnly assured Zach of their 
 high, venerable, and awful authority. 
 
 Hungrily the bewitched reader demanded the 
 other volumes, and eagerly read them over and over 
 again ; and when the light failed and he could read 
 no more, as he sat alone in the gallery of the little 
 boat-house, where the stars looked down upon him
 
 152 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 like buman eyes, where the mists, floating up from 
 the bosom of the lake, took on the semblance of 
 stately and heroic forms, where the soughing of the 
 wind among the overhanging trees, and the cry of 
 the bittern in the distant swamps, all helped to fill 
 the night with mystery and loneliness, then all he 
 had read came back to him, then his kindled fancy 
 peopled the vast and silent wastes about him with 
 illustrious shapes. He scoured, with mighty hosts, 
 the Syrian plains; he ploughed, with conquering 
 triremes, the ^Egean wave ; he thundered philippics 
 to applauding senates, and reenacted all the stirring 
 and glorious scenes of the Plutarchian world. 
 
 Amazed at the zest of this newly-awakened intel- 
 lect, Monsieur took a natural pleasure in minister- 
 ing to it. He brought forth book after book from 
 the stores of Falconer's library, which proved to be 
 well stocked with the heterogeneous old-time mate- 
 rial which our grandfathers, God help them! bat- 
 tened upon. For there was not only Rollins, Chap- 
 man's Homer, Dryden's Virgil, and the Adventures 
 of Telemachus, but Addison, Pope, Swift, Bunyan, 
 and Defoe. Of all these, remembering the com- 
 mander's advice, Zach applied himself chiefly to 
 those which presumably dealt with facts. 
 
 The watchful attorney, fearing lest indiscrimi- 
 nate credulity should become a fixed mental habit 
 with his pupil, presently interfered. He flung cold 
 water, he vented some wholesome jeers, he flouted 
 the demigods of antiquity, he belittled their doughty 
 doings. 
 
 Zach reddened and bit his lip, but presently, firing
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 153 
 
 up, made a stout defense of his worthies, lamenting 
 that their strain had died out of a degenerate world, 
 along with the breed of saints and martyrs. 
 
 Monsieur laughed aloud. " Pooh, boy ! We have 
 as .many now as ever. More, indeed; they swarm, 
 that brood. They 're a troublesome lot, too, these 
 heroes of yours; why, yonder Yankees up North, 
 who within my remembrance drove Johnny Bull 
 snarling and skulking back to his island, they were 
 heroes of a sort. Nearer at hand in point of time, 
 there was our clever little schemer, Aaron Burr." 
 
 "The commander, you mean?" 
 
 " I mean the traitor, he who would have been a 
 hero, one of the good old-fashioned sort, too, if 
 he had succeeded." 
 
 Whether dumfounded at the thought that he 
 himself had been associated with a real hero, or 
 restrained by an impulse of caution, Zach made no 
 comment. 
 
 "Then," continued Monsieur, "to come down to 
 the very present moment, there is Buonaparte." 
 
 "What has he done?" demanded Zach. The 
 astonished attorney stared at such ignorance. 
 
 " Done ? What Alexander and Ca3sar failed to 
 do, conquered the world. A different world from 
 theirs, mon Dieuf Not a world that fights with 
 sticks and stones, and the like, but a world united, 
 disciplined, brought up amid the fumes of gunpow- 
 der. Ay, ay, he outstrips them all; 'tis only the 
 long-ago makes those others seem so mighty, see 
 you?" 
 
 "And is he living now?"
 
 154 ZACHARY PH1PS. 
 
 "That he is, and the greatest villain that draws 
 breath," answered Monsieur calmly. 
 
 "What does he do so bad? " 
 
 "He dyes the rivers with blood, and manures all 
 Europe with the corpses of its best men. He robs, 
 burns, pillages, and assassinates." 
 
 "Why does he do this?" demanded Zach inno- 
 cently. 
 
 "For a noble object." Monsieur laughed and 
 shrugged his shoulders. "To glut his vanity, to 
 bring all the world to bow down before him, the 
 great little pigmy." 
 
 "But," was the wondering comment, "he is a 
 Frenchman, and you are a Frenchman, and " 
 
 "No, no; neither the one nor the other. I was 
 born what matters where? and he, he is a vile 
 little Corsican." 
 
 "How did he begin to do all this?" asked Zach, 
 after some minutes' silence. 
 
 " * Begin ' ? At the beginning. He made up his 
 mind when a babe what he wanted in life, and then 
 marched straight to it, knocking everybody out of 
 his path." 
 
 "But what was the first thing? " persisted the 
 absorbed listener. 
 
 "A simple thing enough: to conquer the world, 
 mind you, one first becomes a soldier. 'T was what 
 the little Corsican yonder did. He wasted no time 
 on other matters, he thought of nothing else, he 
 cared for nothing else, and so, see you ? in time he 
 arrived." 
 
 Conscious in part of the interest he had awakened
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 155 
 
 in his youthful listener, and noting the wistful look 
 in the boy's eyes at parting, the attorney carelessly 
 let fall a suggestion that he would on a pinch give 
 him a helping hand in his studies. 
 
 If Monsieur made this offer perfunctorily as a 
 farewell compliment, he must have been taken aback 
 by the eagerness with which it was accepted, and 
 the enthusiasm with which the recipient availed him- 
 self of the offered privilege. Thereafter, twice a 
 week, storm or shine, Zach turned up at the lawyer's 
 little brick domicile in town, and with such an in- 
 tent, hungry look that Monsieur had a disagreeable 
 impression of a vampire come to fasten upon him. 
 It was more than the good man had bargained for, 
 and there is not a doubt that he was at first greatly 
 bored. Indeed, it is to be feared that he tried by 
 long and severe lessons to discourage this invasion 
 of his leisure. In vain ; this shock-headed boat-boy, 
 with his extraordinary zest, quailed not before any 
 task. Monsieur rubbed his glasses. Was this a 
 genius he had lighted upon? The little lawyer was 
 too acute to be long deceived, but he discovered 
 presently, to his astonishment, how far concentration 
 and steadiness of purpose avail to rival the achieve- 
 ments of the rarest intelligence. 
 
 Not satisfied with his regular studies, Zach was a 
 cormorant of books. Monsieur quickly settled that 
 problem by turning him loose in the library at 
 Basswood. Finding all efforts vain to guide him, 
 he ended by bidding him browse at will. From the 
 first his bent was most marked, and his range sin- 
 gularly contracted, history, politics, and govern-
 
 156 ZACHABT PHIPS. 
 
 ment, and the tale was told. He delighted in the 
 thrust and parry and the stilted courtesy of diplo- 
 matic correspondence, in the intrigues and manoeu- 
 vres of statecraft; and Monsieur unwittingly opened 
 a whole treasure-house by the accidental discussion 
 of a question of international law. Here was a new 
 pasture, belonging to his own domain. Monsieur 
 thought to terrify him by bringing forth dusty, pon- 
 derous volumes of the classic writers, but he thereby 
 only added fuel to the flames, for his indefatigable 
 pupil never rested until he had brought his Latin to 
 the point where he could read Grotius, Vattel, and 
 the other old pundits, in the original. 
 
 All this, be it said, was the work of several years, 
 of busy, quick -flying, fruitful years. It is note- 
 worthy that this constant and continued intellec- 
 tual training effected little or no change in his 
 speech and bearing. His grammar was as uncer- 
 tain and his manners were as unformed as when he 
 arrived at Basswood. 
 
 Naturally, while thus absorbed, his regrets for 
 the old life became less poignant. As a proof, how- 
 ever, that he was not unfaithful to its memories, it 
 having one day occurred to him that the two years 
 assigned by Sandy as the duration of his cruise had 
 long since expired, he flung down his books and 
 rushed out of doors, staring like one just awaked 
 from sleep. 
 
 Thereupon, thinking of the matter, he became 
 greatly troubled ; he neglected his studies, and spent 
 his time haunting the wharves, watching incoming 
 vessels, and making incessant inquiries of the sailors.
 
 ZACHARY PI1IPS. 157 
 
 Thus busied, he was one day making his way along 
 the crowded dock where a New York packet was 
 getting ready to sail, when he heard near at hand a 
 voice which made his heart leap and sent the blood 
 coursing through his veins. 
 
 Turning, he saw near by a family group, of which 
 the central figure, a remarkable-looking woman, was 
 speaking. Instantly he recognized her, and re- 
 strained an impulse to rush forward. It was Mrs. 
 Blennerhassett. 
 
 After helping her husband pick out their luggage 
 from the mass of freight on the dock,- she came for- 
 ward, accompanied by her two sons, to go aboard 
 the vessel. 
 
 Gazing at her eagerly as she approached, Zach, 
 with the detective keenness of youth, noted that her 
 face was marked by lines of trouble, that the rich 
 color had somewhat faded from her cheeks, and that 
 her thick brown hair was already tinged with gray. 
 
 Busied with the preparations for her forthcoming 
 voyage, she passed Zach without noticing him. 
 
 Yielding to an irresistible impulse, he ran after 
 her. She turned, saw the gawky, half-grown boy, 
 regarded him with an indifferent stare, and was 
 about to go on when, unable to contain himself, 
 Zach stammered, 
 
 "I you Mrs. your name is Blennerhas- 
 sett." 
 
 "Yes," she answered indifferently. 
 
 "And I am Zach." 
 
 She looked puzzled. 
 
 "The mate of the Bouncing Bet."
 
 158 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 "Mercy upon us! Do you really tell me so? 
 You dear child, and grown to this ; yes, yes, to 
 be sure, I see now. You 're not much bigger than 
 Harman, after all. So you are alive and well? 
 God be thanked for it, too ! for I have often and 
 often thought of you, and reproached myself that I 
 left you to your fate. What, tell me, are you doing 
 here?" with a critical glance at his rough clothes. 
 "And the sailor man, I forget his name, an 
 honest soul, he was." 
 
 "Sandy?" 
 
 "Yes, to be sure." 
 
 " He has gone on a cruise, and I I'm the 
 skipper for Mr. Falconer yonder on Lake Pontchar- 
 train." 
 
 "Ah, indeed!" 
 
 "And I study besides, with Monsieur Lescomt." 
 
 "Study, do you say? Right, my boy! You 
 would make yourself something besides a sailor, 
 then?" 
 
 "I I don't know," answered Zach, blushing. 
 
 "Why, after all, should you?" she added, com- 
 fortingly. " 'T is an honorable calling, and one 
 may rise in it by merit as well as another. For the 
 matter of that, we are trying this very moment to 
 get our own Harman into the navy, which his father 
 thinks the finest profession in the world, and well 
 he may, too ! Ah, but it takes great influence, and 
 I am doubtful if we succeed." 
 
 "You are you have been living here ever since ? " 
 faltered Zach, at a loss what to say. 
 
 "Never a bit, child; we are passing through, 'tis
 
 ZACITARY PHIPS. 159 
 
 all. We come from Mississippi, where we have just 
 sold our plantation. Ah, we put all the little scrap 
 of a fortune we had left into that venture," contin- 
 ued the impulsive woman, in an outpouring of con- 
 fidence, as if to a person of her own age. "Yes, all 
 we had in the world, I say, and little enough it was, 
 after that that experience. But did you hear 
 of that wonderful man?" 
 
 "The commander? " gasped Zach. 
 
 "Yes, and how he came forth from that trial where 
 all the greatest lawyers and judges were pitted against 
 him, to say nothing of the government, how he 
 came forth, I say how he put them all to shame, 
 and came forth free and unsullied." 
 
 "Where is he?" 
 
 "In New York, he is. I hope we may soon join 
 him. Ah, trouble has pursued him. lie lost all 
 his estate, like the rest of us. Then," with an ex- 
 pressive look, "that other affair. He will never get 
 over that. What matter?" she continued, with a 
 touch of old-time fervor; "misfortune has no power 
 to blight such a spirit. His star will yet rise and 
 shine I Mark my words, dear boy, and remember 
 them well ! His day is coming, and it will be a day 
 of triumph! Watch, wait, and be ready, if you 
 would have a part in it! Remember," she con- 
 cluded, sinking her voice impressively, "a life lost 
 in such a cause is immortal glory gained! " 
 
 Interrupted by a querulous call from her husband, 
 the inveterate enthusiast, seizing Zach by both 
 hands, shook them with vigor as she whispered a 
 hurried farewell, and hastened away to join her 
 family.
 
 160 ZACHAR Y PHIPS. 
 
 Zach went back to Basswood very much stirred 
 up by this interview with his old friend. Forgotten 
 hopes, dreams, and ambitions stalked forth like 
 ghosts from their grass-grown graves, and made him 
 feel a hundred years old. One sentence, moreover, 
 dropped by Mrs. Blennerhassett, especially haunted 
 him. "The finest profession of the world," she had 
 said, in speaking of the navy. The words rang in 
 his ears. He repeated them all the way home. He 
 thought of them for days and days afterwards. 
 
 On reaching the plantation, he made a discovery 
 which for a time gave his thoughts another turn. 
 Mounting to the loft with wearied steps, he lighted 
 his candle, and sat down with a long-drawn sigh of 
 relief on his pallet bed. 
 
 Raising his eyes, they fell upon a familiar object. 
 Before him, perched in an angle of the rafters, sat 
 Elaine. 
 
 What was the matter with that Parisian young 
 woman ? She wore an unnatural and ghastly aspect ! 
 
 Starting up, he seized the candle and made an 
 examination. The rats had eaten away her nose, 
 left cheek, and ear ! 
 
 Zach uttered a lusty oath. He caught up the doll 
 and regarded it with an expression of mingled dis- 
 may and remorse. He walked the floor with the 
 mutilated creature in his arms. He went below and 
 paced up and down the dark gallery ; then, as if it 
 now were of any avail, he locked up the disfigured 
 pet in the tool-box, and continued his march up and 
 down. 
 
 Nor was it wasted, this midnight promenade, as
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 161 
 
 was shown by next day's action. Directly after 
 breakfast, he went to the superintendent, borrowed 
 a pen and some ink, and spent the day in writing a 
 letter. He began: "My dear Sylvia," and scratched 
 it out. He made many other beginnings, which he 
 likewise scratched out. The subjoined draft, which 
 he finally sent, will afford an indication of his feel- 
 ings at the moment. 
 
 MY DEAR Miss FALCONER, I must inform you 
 of a great misfortune. It is my fault, and I have n't 
 any excuse. You left Elaine under my charge, and 
 I had oughter took good care of her. But I didn't, 
 and the consequence is she is spoilt. Her nose is 
 eat off by rats. The rats likewise eat off her ear 
 and a part of her face. She looks bad, and I don't 
 think she can ever be mended. I oughter have 
 locked her up in the tool-box, but I did n't. I left 
 her settin' on a beam, and they got her. I am 
 sorry. 
 
 Your obed't serv't, ZACH PHIPS. 
 
 Although the writer never received any answer to 
 this letter, it had one result which he little foresaw. 
 It recalled to the absent owner the fact that he had 
 a useless toy on his hands, which in homely parlance 
 was eating its own head off. Accordingly, after 
 some months, Monsieur received from England an 
 order to sell the yacht and discharge her crew.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 HAD Monsieur at all foreseen the effect of the 
 blunt announcement of his news from England, 
 doubtless he would have softened the blow. As it 
 was, directly he noted the look of stupor in Zach's 
 face, that look which comes over a man or a brute 
 stunned by a sudden shock, the acute and kind- 
 hearted little man was prompt with his palliatives. 
 
 On the whole, he did the best thing possible 
 under the circumstances, in boldly taking the bull 
 by the horns and telling Zach bluntly that this 
 sudden dismissal was really a blessing in disguise. 
 Zach stared, and swallowed a lump in his throat. 
 
 "You are getting a big boy," went on Monsieur, 
 frankly. " 'T is time you were seeing something of 
 the world, and looking out for more profitable em- 
 ployment than idling about in a sailboat." 
 
 Listening to these plain words, Zach felt some- 
 thing respond within him which proved that the 
 attorney had struck the right chord. So soon as the 
 whirring in his head was stilled, and the ground 
 would stay down in its place, his own good sense 
 came to the fore and confirmed every word that Mon- 
 sieur had said. Whereupon it only needed some 
 kind assurances of aid and sympathy to send him 
 home feeling quite resigned. 
 
 Yet, wresting a human being so suddenly from
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 163 
 
 his surroundings, like any other act of violence, has 
 disturbing effects. Accordingly, Zach, however rec- 
 onciled in theory, was in fact greatly moved. He 
 began to realize how much he had leaned upon 
 Sandy, and how confidently he had been counting 
 upon renewing their old relations upon his return. 
 
 Thereupon came to mind again the subject of the 
 skipper's prolonged absence, and he began to have 
 misgivings that some ill had befallen his faithful 
 old comrade. Busied with his preparations for de- 
 parture, he was haunted by the thought of Sandy's 
 coming back from the ends of the earth and finding 
 their old nest deserted. Accordingly, on going 
 away, he wrote him a letter, and nailed it firmly on 
 the outside of the boat-house door. 
 
 Another episode, not to be neglected, marked his 
 leave-taking. At the last moment he went to the 
 tool-box and took out the mutilated doll. Looking 
 long and earnestly at the grotesque puppet, he laid 
 it tenderly back in the dark box, and, stifling a sob, 
 he ran out of the house and along the road leading 
 to town, with the look of a hunted animal. 
 
 In his desolation he thought again of Mrs. Blen- 
 nerhassett, and her words came back with new force 
 in this moment of doubt and need. "The finest 
 profession;" he repeated the phrase fifty times on 
 his way to New Orleans, now with a look of hope, 
 and again with a long-drawn sigh as he reflected on 
 the doubts and difficulties in the way. 
 
 The navy ! What saint or martyr ever pictured 
 heaven half so bright, or thought of it with half so 
 keen a longing, as in those hours of doubt and per- 
 plexity Zach pictured the naval service.
 
 164 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 Opening his mind on the subject to Monsieur, 
 for want of any other confidant, the skeptical little 
 attorney dryly advised him to try a cruise on a 
 merchantman by way of testing his enthusiasm. 
 
 The advice was welcomed, the rather that in this 
 direction no aid or influence was needed. To put 
 his purpose speedily into operation, then, he betook 
 himself to the docks, where, without hesitation, he 
 offered his services to the captain of an American 
 bark loading for the Mediterranean. He was ac- 
 cepted without demur, and presently enrolled among 
 the crew of the Indian Queen. 
 
 Accordingly, on a certain fair morning not long 
 afterwards, he sailed out of the port of New Orleans, 
 taking with him of his old life, besides certain in- 
 effaceable memories and impressions, a small store 
 of precious books which he had bought with his sav- 
 ings. These, strictly confined as to subject-matter 
 to the lines already indicated, he henceforth carried 
 wherever he went, and in the study of them not 
 only found an availing solace for uncongenial work 
 and companionship, but unconsciously fitted himself 
 for certain larger fields of usefulness the future had 
 in store for him. Protracted by profitable ventures 
 from one foreign port to another, the voyage was 
 much longer than had been expected. More than 
 two years slipped by before the Indian Queen set 
 her sails for home. This long interval proved a 
 breathing-spell in Zach's life, a tune for vegetation, 
 a wholesome interlude, in which, under simple con- 
 ditions, his physical forces ripened and toughened 
 for coming strains. Otherwise, save for one inci- 
 dent, it was uneventful.
 
 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 165 
 
 Nearing the American coast, on the return trip, a 
 sail was seen in the offing, which upon examination 
 proved to be a British cruiser. Although, when 
 sighted, holding an adverse course, on perceiving 
 the American she came about and bore down, as if 
 for a conference. Knowing the two nations to be 
 at peace, Zach was astonished at the behavior of his 
 captain, who, far from evincing any disposition for 
 a closer acquaintance with the stranger, made no 
 secret of his purpose to show her a clean pair of 
 heels. The Britisher, however, was not to be so 
 easily left in the lurch. Shaking out her spare can- 
 vas, she came forging down before the wind, over- 
 hauling the fugitive league by league. All other 
 signals being disregarded, she presently sent a 
 sharper summons in the shape of a shot from her 
 long gun across the Yankee's bow. 
 
 Seeing escape useless,, the Indian Queen hove to, 
 and thereupon was directly visited by a saucy lieu- 
 tenant at the head of a squad of marines, who, 
 despite the indignant protest of the Yankee captain, 
 impressed and carried away a half-dozen of the 
 ablest of his crew, on the pretext that they were 
 British subjects. 
 
 Zach, who witnessed this high-handed proceed- 
 ing, suddenly developed into a very ardent patriot. 
 Hitherto, he had thought of his country only as a 
 place rather barren in heroes and opportunities. 
 Now, somewhat to his amazement, his blood boiled 
 at the indignity which had been offered her before 
 his very eyes. 
 
 Talking over the matter afterwards with persons
 
 166 ZACUABY PHIPS. 
 
 on shore, he was almost stupefied to learn that the 
 experience of the Indian Queen, so far from being 
 unusual, was an every - day occurrence ; that the 
 President and his advisers at Washington knew all 
 about it and had repeatedly taken it into consider- 
 ation ; that they had even gone to the length of com- 
 plaining to the British minister and protesting that 
 it was a very improper practice. Notwithstanding 
 which, the naughty and intractable British navy 
 went on helping themselves, according to their 
 need, to any promising and able - bodied mariner 
 they could find upon an American merchant vessel. 
 
 So much did Zach take to heart this international 
 question that he scarcely heeded the arrival of the 
 Indian Queen in port, or the fact that, after so long 
 a time, he was back again in New Orleans. 
 
 On landing, his first care was to present himself 
 before Monsieur, and he was very much disconcerted 
 that his old friend did not recognize him. For the 
 first time he realized what a metamorphosis two years 
 had wrought in him as an animal : that he had grown 
 a head taller, that his figure had spread, that he had 
 lost his rounded outline and become gaunt and mus- 
 cular, and that, in fine, touched by the wizard wand 
 of development, he had changed from a boy to a man. 
 
 Monsieur was kind ; he expressed pleasure in see- 
 ing his old pupil, he asked many questions, he in- 
 vited Zach to supper, but somehow it was not quite 
 like the old times. Aside from the question of 
 growth and looks, a change had taken place. Was 
 it in teacher, or pupil? Intangible and subtle as it 
 was, Zach soon solved the problem : in the bright,
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 167 
 
 penetrating eyes of his old friend he detected, what 
 he had never before noted, a critical look, and real- 
 ized that he was being objectively weighed and 
 measured. 
 
 Puzzling further over this discovery, it presently 
 all became clear. There had indeed been a change, 
 and it was in himself. His condition in life, before 
 uncertain, had now been determined; he was now 
 a professional sailor, and the absurdity of an inti- 
 macy between a cultivated, polished man like Mon- 
 sieur and a rude seaman before the mast became 
 apparent upon a mere statement of the case. 
 
 Directly the truth had fully dawned upon him, 
 Zach rose to go. Declining somewhat stiffly the 
 little attorney's offer of hospitality, he took his leave 
 and made his way out to Basswood, where, having 
 already learned from Monsieur that the Falconers 
 were still in England, his first inquiry was for 
 Sandy. It was the old cook, now rheumatic and 
 superserviceable, with whom he gossiped. She said 
 Sandy had been there, had found the letter, and had 
 written an answer. 
 
 On hearing this, Zach without loss of time betook 
 himself to the boat-house door, and found the letter. 
 Although somewhat weather-worn outside, it was 
 legible enough within, and as characteristic withal 
 as an April day. 
 
 March, 1812. 
 
 DEAR BUB. Your letter gin me a setback, for 
 I ben a-hankerin to see ye all the way home, an it 
 took the gizzard clean out of me to find the coop 
 empty. I hadnt oughter left ye behind, I know,
 
 168 ZACJIABY PIIIPS. 
 
 an it serves me right; but the fact is I couldnt stan 
 it no longer. Well, no matter for that ; its gon and 
 past and cant be helped ; all we can do now is to git 
 our bearings and keep a strait corse the rest of the 
 way. The niggers say youve gon off fore the mast. 
 Well, you done a good thing, I reckon. You'll 
 come back with your eyes pooty wide open at any 
 rate. When be you coming back ? You say sunthing 
 bout being gon a year or two, but seein as ther aint 
 no year of our Lord on your letter, that dont help 
 much. If I go off now, like as not you'll be 
 comin back while Im gon an so it'll go. Well, 
 now, that bein the case, I guess the best way'll be 
 for me to loaf round the coste here till you turn up. 
 Im goin now on a little run up to the Chesapeek as 
 secon mait on a coster, an like as not I may round 
 up here agin bout the time youre makin port. So 
 hold hard, an keep your signals fly in. 
 
 Your frend SANDY. 
 
 As the letter was several months old, the writer 
 had evidently not returned, for nothing had been 
 heard of him at Basswood. Thereupon Zach was 
 seized with a desire, which quickly ripened into a de- 
 termination, to follow him. Where, then, and what 
 was the Chesapeake? Inquiry among the sailors 
 soon enlightened him, nor was he long in finding an 
 opportunity to ship as one of the crew of a northern - 
 bound schooner, which was to touch at St. Mary's. 
 
 Zach realized with new wonder the extent and 
 charms of his native country as he sailed into the 
 beautiful Maryland bay. Landing, a fresh impulse
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 169 
 
 was given to these patriotic impulses by the talk he 
 heard about him. There was but one topic, the 
 continued outrages committed by the British cruis- 
 ers, and the contemptuous indifference with which 
 all claims for redress were treated by Lord Liverpool 
 and his cabinet. Already there were threatening 
 rumors of reprisal, and, despite the apparent folly 
 of a nation with two or three puny ships presuming 
 to pit itself against the greatest naval power in 
 the world, there were not wanting bold spirits who 
 raised a cry of war. 
 
 How that war-cry was caught up by the respecta- 
 ble gentlemen at Washington who presided over the 
 affairs of the nation ! Long had they been sitting 
 in suspense, waiting for the popular pool to stir. 
 Those days were troublous times for them. Buf- 
 feted by France, kicked and cuffed by England, 
 and haunted by some very awesome spectres hover- 
 ing about their own political future, they had long 
 recognized the need for action. The ripe moment 
 had at length come. What better than a foreign 
 war? With whom? What matter? It was but 
 the tossing of a penny. Heads, Johnny Crapaud; 
 tails, Johnny Bull. Tails it is ! 
 
 The momentous news, echoing in a sibilant whis- 
 per down the Potomac, reached Zach at St. Mary's, 
 where his schooner was reloading. The words of 
 Mrs. Blennerhassett flamed up again in his mind. 
 They had long served as his shibboleth ; here at last 
 was the touchstone, opportunity, to test their worth. 
 Thenceforth every power of mind and heart were 
 centred upon one object.
 
 170 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 Heaven, as it seemed, heard and answered his 
 unformulated prayer. The very next morning after 
 hearing the thrilling report from Washington, word 
 came by accident to Zach that a government frigate 
 was at that very moment lying at Annapolis, a few 
 miles above, taking in stores and shipping a new 
 crew. 
 
 Telling nobody of his purpose, he slipped away, 
 and after walking a day and a night over a rough 
 road, he arrived at dawn of the second day in the 
 sleepy seaport of Maryland. 
 
 Without waiting to rest or refresh himself, he 
 made his way to the docks, and there, anchored in 
 the bay at the mouth of the river, beheld the object 
 of his search. His heart beat fast as he gazed upon 
 her clean-cut outline, as he noted her tapering spars, 
 her trim rigging, and her port-holes bristling with 
 guns. 
 
 Reluctantly, he tore himself away from the en- 
 grossing spectacle, to get his breakfast. At the old 
 City Tavern, where he went to eat, a party at a 
 table near him drew his attention. Seated at the 
 head of the board was a stout, florid man in a uni- 
 form, whom all seemed to treat with great respect. 
 Inquiring of the waiter, Zach learned with a thrill 
 that it was the captain of the frigate himself. 
 
 After breakfast he watched his chance, and with 
 heart in mouth accosted the great man upon whom 
 at the moment he looked as the arbiter of his des- 
 tiny. 
 
 The officer looked him over with a glance at once 
 shrewd and good-natured.
 
 ZACHART PHIPS. 171 
 
 "Join the navy, eh? what do you want to be, 
 pilot or cook?" 
 
 "I want to be a midshipman," faltered Zach, 
 amazed at his own boldness. 
 
 "Humph! how old are you ?" 
 
 "Sixteen, sir." 
 
 "You seem a trim, likely boy. Can you read 
 and write? " 
 
 "They say I can, first-rate." 
 
 "They ought to know, if they say so. Ever been 
 to sea? " 
 
 "Yeah, two years afore the mast." 
 
 "What do you want to join the navy for?" 
 
 "I want to help lick the Johnny Bulls." 
 
 "Good! I guess you '11 do. Lieutenant, "turning 
 to a young officer at his side, "here 's a new middy 
 for you; see that his papers are made out! " 
 
 A midshipman ! With cold hands, a stuffed feel- 
 ing about the heart, and an overpowering sense of 
 responsibility, Zach came forth from the old inn. 
 
 So far it had all been a dream, and not until an 
 hour after, when, rigged out in a cap, a blue jacket, 
 and a dirk, he stepped on board the ship's long-boat 
 to be rowed over to the frigate, did the reality of it 
 take hold on him. 
 
 "The Constitution, forty -four guns, Captain Isaac 
 Hull." Zach had read the description on a poster in 
 the tap-room of the tavern ; but little did he dream, 
 when he set foot upon the narrow deck, that he was 
 entering upon the scene of heroic and illustrious 
 deeds soon to be achieved. 
 
 As little did any of the ship's company, from Cap-
 
 172 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 tain Hull down to the lowest of his four hundred 
 and fifty seamen, dream that within a very few days 
 the eyes of the whole country and of keen-eyed 
 watchers all over the world would be fixed in breath- 
 less interest upon them and their vessel. 
 
 At last all was ready, and one hot July morning 
 they weighed anchor and sailed away down the bay. 
 As, with a certain feeling of exultation, Zach stood 
 upon the deck watching the receding shore, the new 
 life opening before him naturally suggesting the old, 
 he suddenly thought of Sandy. It was for the first 
 time in many weeks. He was astonished at his own 
 remissness, and felt a pang of good, honest remorse. 
 However, it could not be helped now. If Sandy 
 only knew what had happened I If he only knew 
 that it was while in quest of him this new venture 
 had been undertaken, he would forgive all. With 
 these comforting thoughts he fumbled in his pocket 
 for the skipper's letter, and discovered with a fresh 
 pang that it had been left with his old duds ashore. 
 
 He was aroused from his musing by a call to duty. 
 He soon found that sentiment was to have no part 
 in his new life. Never before had he realized the 
 golden truth that the present is the only point of 
 time with which a living, breathing man has any- 
 thing to do. For the rest, action was the regimen, 
 obedience the motto, of all around him. Incessantly, 
 morning, noon, and night, the crew were exercised. 
 Mind and body alike were trained. Far from be- 
 ing chiefly physical, this drill was in the highest 
 sense moral. Discipline, loyalty, confidence in 
 themselves and each other, and abounding faith
 
 ZACHARY PHI PS. 173 
 
 iii their commander were its victorious and availing 
 results. 
 
 Although when the Constitution sailed out of 
 Annapolis the whole country was buzzing with ru- 
 mors of British cruisers hovering along the coast, 
 a week passed without their meeting a sail, a week 
 in which a mob of recruits was quickly changed into 
 a disciplined crew, in which the ignorance and trep- 
 idation of the novice gave place to something akin 
 to the self-reliance and precision of the veteran. 
 
 The interval was all too short. Every precious 
 moment of that preparatory time was needed and 
 improved, for the ordeal was close at hand. 
 
 Sailing northward, one afternoon, along the coast, 
 the lookout suddenly announced "four sail on the 
 northern board, heading to westward." The sensa- 
 tion caused by this report had hardly abated when 
 a fifth sail hove in sight in the northeast. In the 
 blinding light of the setting sun shining on a dead 
 level with their eyes, the character of the strangers 
 could not be made out. Neither was Zach at all 
 clear whether it was due to design or a shifting of 
 the wind that the Constitution, with stay-sails and 
 studding-sails set, wore slowly around to the east- 
 ward, so as to approach the last comer. 
 
 The situation was in the highest degree dramatic, 
 while, as if to complete and prolong the suspense, 
 night fell like a curtain upon the scene. Presently 
 through the gathering darkness there resounded the 
 fierce roll of the drum calling the men to quarters 
 for action. Heard for the first time, it had a blood- 
 curdling sound, and Zach felt his pulses beat and
 
 174 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 his muscles grow limp. It proved, however, only a 
 precautionary measure. Nothing definite was yet 
 known of the stranger. She might prove a friend. 
 To clear up the uncertainty, signals were repeatedly 
 shown by the Constitution, but without result. 
 
 The night was long-drawn and anxious. Sleep 
 was unthought of. At daylight the solitary vessel 
 was only half a mile distant on the port tack, the 
 others had disappeared. 
 
 So said the lookout, but the report proved illu- 
 sory. Hardly had the anxious watchers drawn a 
 breath of relief, when there came the startling an- 
 nouncement that the squadron had reappeared in 
 the offing, and were exchanging signals with the 
 solitary stranger! 
 
 All doubt was now at an end; their character was 
 revealed : they were all members of the same fleet. 
 Clear, too, was the situation. Like a pack of hounds 
 hot upon the scent, five of the best cruisers of the 
 British navy were trimming sail to run down and 
 destroy one poor Yankee frigate. It was to be a 
 race for life. 
 
 For life ! Let history tell, and tell again to each 
 succeeding age, how vastly greater was the issue ; 
 how it was a race for a nation's honor, a people's 
 welfare, a race run over a boundless course, with no 
 chance of refuge nor hope of succor from heaven or 
 earth, save in the resources of one stout-hearted man ! 
 
 With bated breath Zach looked at that man. 
 Absorbed, he stood apart upon the quarter-deck, not- 
 ing every detail of the situation, and silently meas- 
 uring himself against its uttermost perils, yet with
 
 ZACIIARY PHIPS. 175 
 
 no tell-tale mark of its strain upon him save the 
 feverish brightness of his eye and the grim resolu- 
 tion of his mouth. 
 
 His plan laid, the orders came quick and sharp : 
 a twenty-four pounder was brought up from the 
 main deck and run out aft, reinforced by two long 
 guns thrust through the cabin windows ; the whole 
 forming a bristling row of teeth against the bold 
 enemy who should press too near. 
 
 Then there fell a calm. All life and motion 
 died out of sea and sky. Pursuers and pursued 
 alike stood paralyzed and impotent, stock-still upon 
 the glassy sea, though frantic with eagerness to go 
 on. It was not for long; the watchful Hull, with a 
 sweeping glance at the sky, ordered out the boats 
 to go ahead and tow. Zach had command of one of 
 these boats, and in his excitement swore like a veteran 
 at his struggling crew, as they strove to drag their 
 noble vessel from yonder sea-hound's pursuing grip. 
 Hour after .weary hour they tugged like galley- 
 slaves at their task, spurred on from time to time 
 by the boom of cannon from behind, which showed 
 that the enemy was on their track. For all their 
 toil, the heavy frigate moved but at a snail's pace. 
 
 At last there is an order from the vessel; the 
 boats are called alongside; a breeze is coming. 
 Gladly the weary sailors obey the signal. The 
 .ilert captain has the studding-sails already spread 
 when they come up the side. 
 
 Alack, it proves a false alarm. The promised 
 breeze is but a puff, an infant's breath. Instantly 
 the order comes, the sails are furled; the whole
 
 176 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 manoeuvre has been executed like the opening and 
 shutting of an umbrella. 
 
 Again there is no help for it the exhausted 
 men are ordered into the boats. It is a struggle 
 against great odds, and notwithstanding every nerve 
 is strained, the enemy begins to gain. Zach looks 
 on with anguish of heart. He glances in despair 
 at the captain. That steadfast official is not yet at 
 the end of his resources. 
 
 "Run out a kedge, quick! " is his order to the 
 sailing-master. 
 
 "Forecastlemen, get up a kedge! " bawls the sail- 
 ing-master, jumping down on the deck. "Pass it 
 on to the first launch ! Run up hawser from below 
 and bend it on! Run out ahead! Bear a hand, 
 you lubbers ! Jump for your lives ! " 
 
 The thing is done as if it had been rehearsed. 
 In a trice an anchor is run out far ahead, and the 
 vessel dragged by stalwart hands silently and swiftly 
 over the waveless sea. Again and again the move- 
 ment is repeated. The expedient avails. Percepti- 
 bly they regain lost ground, and the exultant Hull, 
 as he glides away, resists not firing a derisive salute 
 at his pursuers. 
 
 His exultation is premature. The watchful en- 
 emy quickly catch the trick, and fail not to follow 
 suit. They, too, row, and tow, and kedge, putting, 
 withal, the force of the whole squadron to the task 
 of thrusting forward one ship to grapple with the 
 Yankee. 
 
 In the face of a force so overwhelming, the issue 
 could not long be in doubt. It seemed in truth
 
 ZACIIARY PHIPS. 177 
 
 already a foregone conclusion. Again Hull, with 
 unruffled composure, made ready for action. His 
 intent was clear : that of turning upon his nearest 
 pursuer before the others could come to her aid. 
 
 Contrary to all hope and expectation, a little 
 wind sprang up. The American drew away. Again, 
 as through the livelong day, a lurking demon in 
 the clouds above mocked them with vain hopes. 
 The wind was but his cheating breath, and lasted 
 only long enough to raise their hearts. 
 
 At last, in the midst of all this doubt and sus- 
 pense, the interminable day wore to an end. Night 
 came, but brought no rest. The fugitives felt that 
 their enemy, like a tiger in the jungle, was ever 
 crouching and creeping in their rear. They dared 
 not rest a moment on their oars. All through the 
 windless summer night they rowed and kedged, 
 while on the deck the captain kept sleepless watch. 
 
 As the third day dawned, the wind freshened; it 
 was like breath in the nostrils of a fainting creature. 
 As if refreshed and strengthened, the frigate pulled 
 ahead, the persistent enemy following hard upon 
 her trail. For the first time the wind fulfilled its 
 promise, for the first time the vessel had a chance 
 to show her mettle. Faithfully she did her part. 
 Steadily she kept her lead. Longer and longer 
 grew the stretch of ruffled water between her and 
 the pursuing fleet. Hope rose high on board the 
 frigate. 
 
 Still the unflagging enemy followed on, ready to 
 take instant advantage of any blunder or mishap. 
 They were wise. A crucial moment was at hand.
 
 178 ZACHABY PIIIPS. 
 
 Far to the west a black spot appeared in the sky. 
 The jaded, haggard captain of the Constitution did 
 not fail to note it. The ship was made ready, the 
 officers warned, every man stationed at his post, and 
 not a sail was furled until the squall was fairly upon 
 them. It came and went like a flash, and as it 
 whistled away over the blackened water, out flew the 
 fore and main topgallant sails, and away sped the 
 frigate beyond all possibility of capture. 
 
 As the day wore on, one by one the baffled pur- 
 suers, out-sailed, out-footed, out-manoeuvred, faded 
 away like ghosts upon the vapory line of the hori- 
 zon.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 AFTER her hairbreadth escape, the Constitution, 
 still keeping a northward course, made for the near- 
 est port. Upon hearing that Boston was their pur- 
 posed destination, Zach had an odd sensation of 
 shrinking, caused, doubtless, by the ghost of the old 
 culprit feeling still haunting his memory. What- 
 ever its source, it grew upon him more and more, 
 as, winding up among the shoals and islands of 
 the harbor, they drew near to the town. Uncon- 
 sciously he fixed an anxious look upon the various 
 harbor-craft they met, as though upon each advan- 
 cing deck he expected to see the avenging forms of 
 Master Tileston and Marm Dinely. 
 
 His suspense, however, was short, for directly 
 after coming to anchor, it was announced by the 
 first lieutenant that their stay in port was to be 
 brief, and that none of the crew were to be allowed 
 to go ashore. 
 
 As they lay at a safe distance from land, Zach 
 borrowed a glass and tried to make out his old 
 home. Despite certain obtruding new buildings, he 
 flattered himself that he could distinguish a bit of 
 the southern gable of the house in Salutation Alley 
 and the green swaying tops of the apple-trees in the 
 garden behind. For the rest, the town was at once 
 changed and familiar, what with the disappearance
 
 180 ZACHABT PHIPS. 
 
 of Beacon Hill Monument, of divers old landmarks 
 in the shape of windmills, and the erection of sev- 
 eral churches and many large buildings towards the 
 South End. 
 
 Protected by the stars and stripes waving above 
 him, and by bristling rows of guns beneath, Zach 
 apparently recovered his equanimity, but it was 
 noted that he heaved a deep sigh of relief when, 
 their visit over, they at last weighed anchor and 
 stood down the bay. 
 
 Turning northward, they ran along the coast of 
 Maine and skirted the Bay of Fundy, whence, stand- 
 ing out to sea, they presently fell in with a British 
 packet bound for Halifax. Having quickly over- 
 hauled and captured her, a prize crew was put on 
 board, and her papers, valuables, and three cabin 
 passengers were transferred to the frigate. 
 
 Zach was standing listlessly near the gangway, 
 leaning on the bulwarks, when the prisoners came 
 on board. He barely suppressed an outcry. No- 
 body, however, heeded his agitation, for his ship- 
 mates were too much taken up with the examination 
 of their new prize, the first they had captured. Be- 
 sides, nothing specially noteworthy had happened: 
 a half -grown girl had quietly walked up the gang- 
 way led by a stalwart sailor and followed by a maid 
 and a tall, middle-aged man, in whom Zach had rec- 
 ognized old acquaintances. 
 
 With an assurance partly national and partly in- 
 dividual, Falconer, having comforted his daughter, 
 addressed himself at once to Captain Hull, claiming 
 that he was a private citizen engaged in his own
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 181 
 
 business, protesting that this detention would work 
 him great damage, and demanding that he be al- 
 lowed to proceed on his way. 
 
 Captain Hull might have been excused for smiling 
 at this request, but save for a sly twinkle in his 
 eye, he showed no sense of any humor in the situa- 
 tion as he bluntly expressed his regret, pleaded the 
 exigencies of war, and tendered the hospitality of 
 his cabin to his enforced guests. Falconer showed 
 himself a man of the world by recognizing the situa- 
 tion, accepting the proffered hospitality, and making 
 the best of a bad bargain. Sylvia, the while, stood 
 by, regarding the captain with an expression of un- 
 feigned horror. 
 
 After the interview, the trio were shown below. 
 They passed close to Zach. At their approach a 
 deep flush overspread his face, and a wistful, expec- 
 tant look shone in his eyes. Preoccupied with their 
 own position, the prisoners included him only in the 
 sweeping general glance they cast about the vessel, 
 and passed on without recognition. Zach gazed 
 after them with a dazed look. 
 
 It was late in the afternoon, and Sylvia did not 
 appear again that day. To his surprise, and much 
 to the bewilderment of his notions on the relations 
 of captor and captive, however, Zach saw Falconer 
 in the evening pacing the quarter-deck, and engaged 
 in amicable conversation with Captain Hull. 
 
 Next morning, Zach was on duty directing the 
 cleaning of the guns in the after - division, when 
 Sylvia appeared on the main deck. Evidently she 
 had already lost her fear of the captain, and was
 
 182 ZACHAKY PHIPS. 
 
 deep in his good graces, for she held him by the 
 hand, and was chattering away with the utmost free- 
 dom, to the manifest delight of the bluff seaman. 
 The pair seemed to be making a survey of the ves- 
 sel, and the indulgent officer was patiently answer- 
 ing the flood of questions prompted by the girl's 
 eager curiosity. 
 
 As they approached the spot where Zach stood, 
 he was seized with an impulse to fly. The uncon- 
 scious stress of discipline prevailed : he stood by his 
 post and went on with his work. 
 
 The two came nearer. Now Zach could hear their 
 voices, now distinguish their very words. It was 
 Sylvia who was talking. 
 
 "Truly, are you a Yankee?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Then you must be a bad man." 
 
 "Why so?" 
 
 "All the Yankees are bad." 
 
 "What do they do that is so bad? " 
 
 "They cheat, and steal, and never tell the truth." 
 
 "Humph!" 
 
 "Yes, and now they are fighting the king's army 
 and navy; but they will get beaten." 
 
 "The poor Yankees! so they are going to be 
 beaten?" 
 
 "Yes, because they are such cowards ; they always 
 run away." 
 
 "It serves them right to be beaten, then." 
 
 " Oh, yes, and the king is going to send out some 
 big, strong ships, and catch all the Yankee ships and 
 burn them."
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 183 
 
 "Whew! and where did you hear all this? " 
 
 "In London; everybody there knows it, and papa 
 says so too ; so you had better look out. But I hope 
 they won't catch you! " 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " Because you are not like a Yankee. You are 
 like an Englishman! " 
 
 "God forbid!" 
 
 "Besides, I don't want them to catch you, I 
 like you! " pursued the confiding little maiden. 
 
 " Good, good, my dear ! Let us strike hands on 
 that ! You and I will be friends, and leave the king 
 and the Yankees to fight it out between themselves. 
 Give way there, Phips, and let us pass! " 
 
 This command was given to Zach, who stood bend- 
 ing over his task with his back to the approaching 
 pair. Instantly he drew aside, stood erect, and 
 saluted. With a casual glance at him, Sylvia passed 
 along. Presently she turned back for a second look, 
 then stopped and studied him with a scowl of per- 
 plexity. Zach colored to the roots of his hair. A 
 flash of intelligence lighted up the girl's face ; she 
 flew towards him, crying, 
 
 "Zach! Zach! Papa! Come quick and see. Here 
 is our Zach! " 
 
 Overjoyed at the greeting, but abashed by the 
 presence of the captain, Zach stood, receiving the 
 caresses of his old playmate, unable to answer a 
 word to the incoherent questions she poured forth. 
 
 "Why, Zach! Oh, Zach, how came you here? 
 Oh, you are grown up so so big, I didn't know 
 you ; and your hair is cut off so short, and you
 
 184 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 have that funny cap on ; and did you bring Sandy, 
 too? When did you come away? And where is 
 Elaine? Oh, I am so glad! But" she suddenly 
 checked her enthusiasm, as a thought struck her, 
 "what are you doing on this ship? Are you a pris- 
 oner, too? Oh, Zach, have you gone and turned a 
 Yankee?" 
 
 This appalling suspicion so affected her that she 
 paused, and fixed upon her old friend a withering 
 glance of accusation. 
 
 The charge of being a turncoat so touched Zach's 
 pride that he found his tongue speedily enough and 
 answered bluntly, 
 
 "No, I ain't turned anything. I am a Yankee, 
 I always was a Yankee, and I always shall be a 
 Yankee." 
 
 Shocked to her heart's core by this avowal, Sylvia 
 stood, unable to say a word. The captain, mean- 
 while, who had looked on with quiet amusement, now 
 interposed. 
 
 "So you know Phips, then, my dear? " 
 
 "He is n't Phips, he is Zach. He used to live 
 
 with us at Basswood, and sail the yacht, he and 
 
 Sandy ; but he was a little boy then, and had long 
 
 hair, but" she paused and her lip trembled "I 
 
 - 1 didn 't know he was a Yankee ! " 
 
 Overcome by the shock of this discovery, Sylvia 
 burst into tears, gazing with reproachful eyes upon 
 Zach, as though he had willfully transformed himself 
 into a monster. 
 
 Taken quite aback by this outburst, Zach stood, 
 at a loss what to do or say. His perplexity was in- 
 creased by the unexpected behavior of Hull.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 185 
 
 "What do you mean?" he cried, turning upon 
 Zach, "by being a Yankee? Shame upon you! 
 explain yourself, sir ! " 
 
 Deceived by the mock severity of the captain's 
 tone, he had not heeded his words, Zach began 
 to stammer. 
 
 "Tut! tut! don't try to excuse yourself! You 
 ought to be ashamed, I say, of such behavior. Take 
 yourself off, sir, and don't let it happen again !" 
 
 Awaking tardily to the humor of the situation, Zach 
 was, yet, a little in doubt how to treat his superi- 
 or's grotesque command. Evidently he thought 
 it better to err on the safe side, for, saluting awk- 
 wardly, he turned to move away. Directly, Sylvia 
 interposed. 
 
 "Don't send him away; don't let him go, Captain 
 Hull. I didn't mean to say it. I 'm sorry, Zach! 
 Perhaps you can't help it. I hope Elaine hasn't 
 turned a Yankee, too." 
 
 At this moment Falconer appeared upon deck, 
 and Sylvia ran to drag him to the spot, crying 
 eagerly, 
 
 "Come here, come here quick, papa. What do 
 you think? Here is Zach! " 
 
 Showing neither surprise nor pleasure at the an- 
 nouncement, the planter surveyed the well-grown 
 boy in his neat sailor rig deliberately, making the 
 identification complete before speaking. 
 
 "So! I'm sorry to see him in this business," 
 with a glance at Captain Hull. 
 
 Zach compressed his lips, and strove to dissemble 
 his mortification.
 
 186 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 Thereupon, assuming a tone of kindly interest, 
 Falconer asked some general questions about his life 
 and movements since leaving Basswood, and saun- 
 tered away, leaving the young midshipman with an 
 indescribable feeling of having been thrust down 
 unnumbered degrees in the social scale by his passing 
 interview with the planter. Unable clearly to ana- 
 lyze this feeling or detect the true causes of it, he 
 yet looked after his old employer with feelings oddly 
 compounded of respect, humiliation, and resentment. 
 
 Luckily, Sylvia gave him 110 opportunity to brood 
 upon this. As of old she demanded his whole atten- 
 tion. If possible, she had grown more despotic than 
 ever, while on his side Zach fell straightway into his 
 former attitude of subjection. Indeed, he evidently 
 welcomed and found comfort in the yoke, and cast 
 wistful glances about when, his exacting little friend 
 was long absent from the deck. 
 
 Thus for a few days life blossomed again into 
 beauty and sweetness on board this vessel of war. 
 His intercourse with his old playmate was marked 
 by a new element of satisfaction to Zach. He felt 
 and valued the dignity belonging to his new station. 
 The old sense of dependence upon her father had 
 gone, and thus his habitual gravity was mingled with 
 a becoming touch of pride. This little episode was 
 too sweet to last, and accordingly one day it all 
 came to an end, like the shutting of a door. 
 
 Having explored the northern waters to no pur- 
 pose, Captain Hull by and by turned southward. 
 The day after altering his course, the lookout an- 
 nounced a sail in the offing. Whoever she might
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 187 
 
 be, the stranger seemed bent on coming to closer 
 acquaintance. Her identity was soon revealed: to 
 Hull's unfeigned delight, she proved to be the 
 Guerriere, one of the most formidable of the fleet 
 which had so recently given him chase. 
 
 Directly, the man was transfigured, his eyes 
 glowed with exultation, his muscles grew tense 
 against the coming strain. It was at once one of 
 the effects of his temperament and the secrets of 
 his power that his officers and crew in critical mo- 
 ments seemed fired with his spirit. 
 
 The drum beat to quarters. Every man hurried 
 to his station. Meantime the two vessels, like ath- 
 letes in the arena, stripped as it were for action. 
 The Guerriere backed her main topsail; the Consti- 
 tution took in her topgallant sails, staysails, and 
 flying jib, took a second reef in her topsails, hauled 
 the courses up, and sent down the royal yards. 
 
 With one last glance at the enemy, who, bristling 
 with menace, was awaiting their approach, Zach 
 hurried below to the main deck, where he had charge 
 of one of the guns. In the portentous pause before 
 the conflict began, he bethought him of the prisoners, 
 and remembered with a sigh of relief that an hour 
 before, greatly to the indignation of the planter, 
 they had been ordered to the hold. 
 
 Meantime a dull boom announced that the action 
 had begun. Shut in between the decks, with no 
 point of observation but his port-hole, Zach stood 
 rigid with expectation. The suspense was intoler- 
 able. Luckily it was short-lived. Presently there 
 came a terrific roar ; the vessel shook from stem to
 
 188 ZACHABY PIIIPS. 
 
 stern. For a moment the earth seemed to have 
 stopped in space and the frigate to be sinking. The 
 enemy, at short range, had simply poured in a broad- 
 side. 
 
 Zach was appalled. His ears were deafened, his 
 brain ceased to act, a sickening nausea paralyzed 
 heart and hand. In the midst of it all a hoarse 
 cry resounded. Zach's stunned ears could not make 
 out the words. He stared wildly about. Luckily 
 his men heard and obeyed the order. An answering 
 roar was heard: the Constitution trembled from 
 stem to stern as she returned, with deadly effect, 
 the enemy's fire. The sound, the action, brought 
 the young officer to his senses, and from that mo- 
 ment he served his gun like a veteran. 
 
 Shut in between decks, he could see nothing of 
 what was taking place. He had but to stand and 
 wait. Meantime the frigate, wearing to gain ad- 
 vantage, or yawing to avoid a broadside, seemed 
 like a vast whirling teetotum. By turns, through 
 the port-holes, he caught a glimpse of the enemy's 
 bow or stern, now near at hand, now vanishing from 
 sight. 
 
 As the fight went on, every element of doubt and 
 terror combined to dismay the young midshipman : 
 the confused cries and orders - and rushing of feet 
 from the upper deck, the crash of spars, timber, and 
 rigging, the shrieks of the wounded, the dread 
 booming of the cannon, the continuous roar of the 
 sea, which, as if eager to join the carnival of vio- 
 lence, boiled up from the depths, filled the port- 
 holes with blinding spray, and fell with a sizzling 
 sound upon the heated guns.
 
 ZACH ART PHIPS. 189 
 
 In the culminating awfulness of the moment Zach 
 lost all sense of fear. One instinct alone possessed 
 him : the old brutish instinct to fight. Directly it 
 acquired sway, he became insensible to every other 
 consideration. 
 
 The scene yet lacked a climax. Through the 
 pandemonium, rising above the deafening tumult, 
 eclipsing every other terror, came the cry, 
 
 "Fire! Fire!" 
 
 Directly a cloud of smoke from the direction of 
 the cabin confirmed the report. In the tumult, the 
 first lieutenant near the companion-way vainly 
 shouted orders which could not be heard. Forget- 
 ful of special duties in that dire emergency, Zach 
 ran to help. He arrived, so it seemed, none too 
 soon. In the dim light a row of black figures could 
 be seen handing buckets from pumps on the main 
 deck. Fighting his way upwards through the blind- 
 ing smoke and drenching floods which deluged the 
 companion-way was a tall figure with a burden in 
 his arms. Halfway up, he stumbled on the slippery 
 ladder and fell. Zach sprang down -and took the 
 burden from his arms. He looked hopelessly about 
 for a place of refuge in which to deposit it. There 
 was no spot of safety or quiet in all that hell of 
 conflict. A man passing with a bucket of water, at 
 Zach's request, flung a handful in Sylvia's face. 
 She revived and opened her eyes, but at the sight of 
 Zach bending over her, his 'face streaming with 
 sweat, blackened with gunpowder, and smeared with 
 blood, she straightway swooned again. 
 
 At this moment Falconer appeared. Without a
 
 190 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 word, Zach thrust the unconscious girl into his arms 
 and darted away. 
 
 Even in the few minutes he had been gone, the 
 situation had changed. Close up against his port- 
 hole lay the Guerriere, her ponderous guns at pistol- 
 range. Before he had time to reach his place, fire 
 belched from all these iron throats, the air was filled 
 with cries and groans, the deck was strewn with 
 dying men, flying splinters, disjointed gun-car- 
 riages, and an obscene and ghastly litter, while the 
 smoke, heat, and stench in the confined space were 
 well-nigh intolerable. 
 
 It was a soul-trying moment. There and then 
 Zach received his baptism of fire, and it is much 
 to say that he came forth from the ordeal alive and 
 sane. 
 
 Brushing the obstacles from his path, he flew to 
 his deserted post. Half his own men had been 
 swept away. The gun next him was silenced. The 
 lieutenant in command had fallen. It was no time 
 to hesitate, or wait for orders. There was but one 
 thing to do : to return the blow of the enemy before 
 she could wear out of range. 
 
 With the aid of his half -disabled men, he loaded 
 and pointed the two guns. The British frigate, 
 fearing the coming retribution, was struggling with 
 might and main to escape, but as if for the moment 
 animated by a malign intelligence, the Constitution 
 held her fast in a death-grapple. 
 
 Opportunely, a new officer arrived. The word 
 was given, the match applied, a sheet of flame for 
 a moment lit up the doomed vessel. Then came a
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 191 
 
 crash. A cheer resounded from the upper deck. 
 The cry was echoed through the vessel, 
 
 "Down goes her mizzen-mast! " t 
 
 Another trampling was heard above. A chorus 
 of oaths and shouts and orders from the sailing- 
 master and the first lieutenant filled the interval. 
 
 "Fire! Fire!" 
 
 "Give her hell!" 
 
 "Helmaport!" 
 
 "Down goes her main yard! " 
 
 "Hurrah!" 
 
 "Man the starboard guns! " 
 
 "Fire! Fire! Look out for her bowsprit! 
 Foul again! Stand by to board! " 
 
 "Marines repel boarders! " 
 
 "Fire!" 
 
 "Boarders away! " 
 
 A sharp rattle of musketry, a rush of feet, and 
 then came louder cheers. The triumphant cry 
 reached the anxious gunners below. 
 
 "He's down!" 
 
 "Who?" 
 
 "The British cap'n!" 
 
 "Dacres?" 
 
 "Ay! ay!" 
 
 "The day is ours!" 
 
 " Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! " 
 
 The two ships, working around, fell apart. 
 Directly, the Guerriere's foremast and mainmast 
 tumbled overboard on the starboard side, leaving 
 her a helpless wreck. 
 
 The fight was over. The Constitution ran off to
 
 192 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 the eastward and lay to. With nimble hands the 
 tired but victorious crew fell to work repairing the 
 havoc done to their stanch frigate. 
 
 On the quarter-deck, the panting hero who com- 
 manded her stood mopping his forehead and casting 
 back a significant look upon his victim. Secure now 
 of possession, he took his tune, and not until order 
 was in some sort restored, stood under her lee to 
 receive the formal surrender.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 AT one blow, down went the prestige of the Brit- 
 ish navy, the spell of invincibility was broken. 
 Captain Hull and Lieutenant Morris were a little 
 dazed at their good luck, they dared not call it by 
 any other name. Two victories in the short space 
 of a few weeks might well have turned the heads of 
 such inexperienced conquerors. Nor even yet did 
 they dream of the moral significance of their exploits. 
 It was not until they arrived in port and witnessed 
 the delirious joy of their countrymen that they 
 awoke to the truth that they, in their proper persons, 
 were out-and-out heroes. Nor>did Zach himself, al- 
 though so long in quest of some modern instance of 
 such a worthy, ever think of consulting his looking- 
 glass. Unhappily, as will presently appear, he was 
 to be cheated of his well-earned share in the coming 
 triumph. 
 
 With the return of quiet and order, the prisoners 
 duly reappeared upon deck, but with altered de- 
 meanor. Falconer, perhaps, had not forgiven the 
 rigorous treatment he had received at the hands of 
 the captain, while the effect of the late experiences 
 upon Sylvia was still more noteworthy. She re- 
 garded Hull with unfeigned terror, and turned away 
 from Zach on his first approach with a look of gen- 
 uine abhorrence. His submissive air, his quiet at- 
 tentions, were of no avail ; they were but tricks and
 
 194 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 glozes; the fiend within him had been revealed. 
 Disturbed by this very unusual behavior, Zach pon- 
 dered over it, and came to his own conclusions. 
 Watching his opportunity one day, when Sylvia had 
 strayed a few paces from her father's side on the 
 upper deck, he approached cautiously, and having 
 arrived within earshot without being perceived, 
 turned his back so as not to excite alarm, and 
 began : 
 
 "I come here to say somethin' to you." 
 
 Sylvia started, and made a move to go. 
 
 "And I want you to stand right still where you 
 be, and listen." 
 
 The firm tone in which this was said had its effect. 
 The listener hesitated, and lingered. 
 
 "If you're actin' like this 'cause we licked the 
 Ger'reer, I just want to tell you it ain't our fault." 
 
 Sylvia made no comment, but regarded intently 
 the averted head and the sinewy, vigorous figure of 
 the speaker as he leaned against the taffrail. 
 
 "The Johnny Bulls come over here from England 
 to fight us, an' you don't think but what we 're goin' 
 to lick 'em if we can, do you?" 
 
 There was no answer, and the speaker, encouraged 
 by the hearing he had gained, went on, 
 
 "They ben stealin' our men, an* stoppin' our 
 ships, an' tramplin' round on the Yankees long 
 enough, an' I guess they '11 find they got to stop. 
 An' I just want to say if you 're such a Johnny Bull 
 that you hate anybody 'cos he 's a Yankee, all 
 right! You can go on actin' so, that 's all." 
 
 This speech was not much in the way of rhetoric,
 
 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 195 
 
 but it was pronounced in a new and masterful tone 
 which distinctly charmed while it startled the hearer. 
 Was this her old-time thrall speaking? Was this 
 the ragged little boat-boy of Bass wood, her father's 
 hireling? She was dimly conscious of something 
 behind the mere words which had been said, of 
 claims to recognition, claims to independence, claims 
 to equality, if not superiority, which, in their sudden 
 development, puzzled her girlish wits. 
 
 Busied with these thoughts, she waited for him to 
 speak again. He had said his say, however, and 
 remained silent. 
 
 She gazed at him wonderingly, as he stood with his 
 side face in relief against the white background of 
 the mizzen, unconsciously impressed by its inflexible 
 maxillary outline. 
 
 "What have I done?" she asked falteringly. 
 
 "You've ben offish!" The retort was prompt 
 and sharp. "And I say, suit yourself! Go on, an' 
 be as offish as you like! " 
 
 Sylvia checked a movement to speak. A sudden 
 change came over her face, softening the eyes, re- 
 laxing certain seldom-used little muscles, blooming 
 in a fleeting glow upon her cheeks, and giving to 
 her whole expression for a moment the maturity of 
 womanhood. Then with a sudden resumption of her 
 old impetuosity, she sprang forward, saying, 
 
 "Don't say any more such silly things! I am not 
 a Johnny Bull, or if I am, I don't want the Yan- 
 kees to be beaten. I don't want anybody to be 
 beaten, and I don't want to see any more fighting 
 ever ever ever! Oh, I never thought any-
 
 196 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 thing could be so dreadful. And you I woke up 
 last night and screamed for papa; a horrid buga- 
 boo was coming after me, and he had a face just like 
 yours when " She finished with a shudder. 
 
 Zach listened with a look half flattered, half 
 abashed. 
 
 "If I ever see you look like that again, I 
 would n't I could n't come near you any more ! " 
 
 This little understanding had the effect of bring- 
 ing back their intercourse to its old familiar foot- 
 ing. Having upheld the dignity of a midshipman 
 by boldly asserting his rights and defining his posi- 
 tion, Zach straightway proceeded to stultify himself 
 by yielding unconditionally to the boundless caprice 
 of his old playmate, but always, as will presently 
 appear, with a saving of duty. 
 
 One morning the idlers on deck were startled by 
 a cry from the lookout, "A sail on the starboard 
 quarter." 
 
 The excitement which followed was speedily 
 quieted by the discovery that it was only a merchant- 
 man. The Constitution, with the wind on her port 
 beam, ran down upon the stranger in good style, 
 and captured her without so much as a flash of gun- 
 powder. 
 
 The prize having a valuable cargo, Captain Hull 
 decided to convey her into harbor in his train. A 
 prize crew was detailed, and casting about for a fit 
 person to put in command, the captain singled out 
 Zach. 
 
 It was a proud moment for the young midship- 
 man. A little incident made it memorable. Falconer
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 197 
 
 stood by when he came to get his orders. Glancing 
 neither to the right nor to the left, however, the 
 young officer saluted, and marched away to take 
 possession of his charge. 
 
 Fifteen minutes afterwards, as he stood at the head 
 of the companion-way, waiting to be put on board 
 the merchantman, Sylvia, who had just heard the 
 news, came rushing up. 
 
 "Oh, Zach, is it true? Are you really going? 
 Do not ! Please do not ! Ask him to send somebody 
 else!" 
 
 The preoccupied midshipman lent only half an 
 ear to this appeal. 
 
 " Zach, do you hear ? Tell Captain Hull to send 
 somebody else. Do not go ! " 
 
 "Poh, poh, I shall be in sight all the time. I 
 must keep company with you, or I may be recap- 
 tured by the enemy." 
 
 "Oh, but if we get out of sight of you? " 
 
 "I shall follow my course." 
 
 "You may not come to land until long after we 
 do." 
 
 "Very good, I will come in at my leisure." 
 
 "Then we shall be gone." 
 
 "Eh!" The hearer's preoccupied eyes were 
 turned towards the forecastle. 
 
 "Papa will set off for Nassau the very minute he 
 puts foot on shore." 
 
 For all reply to this argument, the impatient 
 midshipman stepped forward, and shouted some 
 order to his lagging crew. 
 
 "Don't go, Zach!"
 
 198 ZACI1ABY PHIPS. 
 
 "I must." 
 
 There was a crisp inflexibility to this answer which 
 discouraged further appeal. With streaming eyes, 
 Sylvia turned and walked away to the cabin, to 
 avoid seeing the departure. Her emotion and move- 
 ment were alike unheeded by the anxious young 
 officer. 
 
 But Midshipman Phips found it not so easy to 
 keep company with his convoy ; a storm arose in the 
 night, and they lost sight of each other. Driven 
 furthermore from his course by contrary winds, he 
 was glad enough to make the nearest port at hand. 
 This proved to be New York. 
 
 As his ship had suffered much damage, he took 
 the responsibility of disregarding his orders to report 
 in Boston, and forthwith forwarded to that town 
 news of his arrival. 
 
 An answer came back by return mail to have the 
 prize condemned and sold in New York, to ship his 
 crew to Boston, and report there himself so soon as 
 the business connected with the prize was dispatched. 
 
 Here was a new business, in which he was pro- 
 foundly ignorant. In his perplexity he dreaded to 
 set foot on land; the perils of the sea seemed slight 
 and intangible compared to the insidious pitfalls of 
 the shore. 
 
 Pondering the matter, there came to mind what 
 Mrs. Blennerhassett had said about Aaron Burr. 
 It was a straw, and he caught at it. 
 
 Setting on foot inquiries, he soon learned that the 
 ex-conspirator was indeed in the city, and engaged 
 in the practice of his profession.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 199 
 
 Zach had no difficulty in finding one so well- 
 known. Arrived at the office, he entered with some- 
 thing of his old childish feeling of awe towards its 
 inmate. It was a small, rather dingy room, ill- 
 lighted and meagrely furnished, with an indefinable 
 air of having been long given over to dust and cob- 
 webs. At the far end, near the window, sat the 
 redoubtable little figure of other days, still erect, 
 still trim, still graceful in outline. Zach advanced a 
 few steps and paused. Remembrances of the great 
 conspiracy, sensational rumors, strange reports, 
 wild tales, not a few of which had since come to his 
 ears concerning the remarkable person he was about 
 to confront, stayed his steps and embarrassed his 
 greeting. 
 
 Burr raised his head ; the face was calm and cold, 
 and the eyes seemingly as brilliant as of old, but 
 the figure, what had happened to that? Had it 
 shriveled with age, or had Zach forgotten how small 
 it used to be ? 
 
 A little touch of suspicion showed in his face 
 when Zach announced himself as a former acquaint- 
 ance. It was gone in a moment, however, and the 
 commander rose and received him with impressive 
 courtesy. The manner, indeed, had all its old state- 
 liness and charm, but in jarring contrast to this 
 personal elegance Zach was pained to see that his 
 coat was threadbare, and his linen soiled and ragged. 
 
 Far from showing any elation, however, on learn- 
 ing Zach's errand, he entered upon his docket the 
 minutes of this very profitable piece of business with 
 the admirable unconcern of one to whom it was an 
 hourly duty.
 
 200 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 Their business finished, the attorney invited his 
 new client to dine. For obvious reasons Zach 
 would gladly have declined, but fearing to wound 
 the sensibilities of his inviter, reluctantly accepted. 
 Adjourned to a neighboring restaurant, moreover, 
 he speedily forgot all scruples, charmed with his 
 host's irresistible hospitality and inspired with a 
 sense of confidence in his unlimited resources. The 
 dinner in the way of meat and drink was the best 
 that the house afforded; for the rest, rising trium- 
 phantly above every disadvantage of surroundings, 
 his host succeeded in investing it with a tone of ele- 
 gance quite new to the guest's experience. The 
 talk, too, was not to be forgotten. It consisted, for 
 the most part, of criticism upon public men and 
 affairs. Although startled by the boldness of many 
 of the sentiments, the hearer was at the same time 
 disarmed by the inimitable manner in which all was 
 pronounced, a manner not only without heat, 
 without undue emphasis, without volubility, but so 
 combining calmness, audacity, and sententiousness, 
 as almost to compel assent. 
 
 The feast over, Zach noted with concern that his 
 host had a long and mysterious discussion with the 
 waiter, followed by a longer and more earnest one 
 with the proprietor himself. Whatever its purport, 
 it ended pacifically, and the host came back to his 
 guest with a look of satisfaction. As they after- 
 wards strolled down Broadway, Zach remarked that 
 his companion seemed not to notice the many curious 
 glances cast at him. Zach at first attributed this 
 to preoccupation, but changed his mind later. A
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 201 
 
 richly -appointed carriage drove up to the curbstone, 
 and a large, important-looking man stepped out in 
 their very faces. A fleeting look of recognition 
 passed between the two. Burr bowed with effusive- 
 ness ; the other, gazing directly at his former friend, 
 with deadly disregard passed on without returning 
 the courtesy. 
 
 Quivering with indignation, Zach turned toward 
 his companion, but was amazed to see upon his face 
 no trace of annoyance or mortification. Thereupon 
 a sickening thought came to him: such insensibility 
 could only be the result of a long acquaintance with 
 contumely. They stopped at last upon the corner 
 of a small street running out of Broadway. About 
 to take leave, Zach lingered to discuss some forgot- 
 ten detail of the business connected with the prize. 
 Leaning upon the stall of a dealer in second-hand 
 books, Burr explained the point, the while idly 
 thumbing a volume upon the stand. The watchful 
 trader at once came forward. 
 
 " I can let ye have that, mister, at a bargain ; a 
 rare edition, fine type, half calf, not a crack in it, 
 an' with a portrait, see! " 
 
 Without allowing time for protest, the zealous 
 salesman opened to the frontispiece and displayed a 
 speaking likeness of the subject of the biography. 
 
 As he glared at the opened book, an inarticulate 
 noise like a gasp came from the beholder. He strove 
 to speak, but as if choked by a sudden dryness of 
 the throat could not bring forth a word. His skin 
 visibly changed in hue from its normal pallor to a 
 greenish yellow, while to the measureless astonish-
 
 202 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 ment of his client he turned with a hurried gesture 
 and slunk away around the nearest corner. 
 
 Attracted by an exclamation from the bookseller, 
 Zach looked down, and his eyes for the first time fell 
 upon the book. There was nothing extraordinary 
 about it : the life of a distinguished statesman, well- 
 known as one of the framers of the Constitution. 
 What then, stay ! Presently there came throng- 
 ing to mind confused remembrances of some old 
 tragedy in which the commander had part. And 
 was this, then, the a plague upon his memory, with 
 her mists and fogs ! The one vivid impression upon 
 his mind in connection with the event was the word 
 Hoboken, a name odd and uncanny to his New Eng- 
 land ears. Pondering the matter on his homeward 
 way, he was haunted by that solitary figure in the 
 dingy office, the askant looks of the populace, the 
 brutal affront of his fellow-citizen. What meant it 
 all ? Oh, dread whirligig of Time ! Had, then, the 
 far-reaching shadow of that wild Hoboken cliff fallen 
 upon the strange man who had just left him, fallen 
 nevermore to be lifted, blackening his pathway and 
 blighting his life to the end of time ! 
 
 Zach did not go again, for several days, to consult 
 his lawyer, and then learned to his dismay that in 
 the matter of his prize a claim had been put in that 
 she was a neutral bottom carrying goods not contra- 
 band, and that the suit would be stoutly contested. 
 
 In effect, the matter resulted in a prolonged liti- 
 gation, which kept the disgusted midshipman in- 
 definitely in New York. Meantime he was amazed
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 203 
 
 at the prodigious stir made about the little affair 
 between the Constitution and the Guerriere. The 
 whole country rang with jubilations. It was mad- 
 dening to be absent from the dear old frigate and 
 his fellows at such a time. In the midst of it all 
 came the stupefying report that Captain Hull had 
 resigned. Resigned, and for a cause so puerile, 
 to be married ! It was incredible. Although ser- 
 vice on the Constitution under another commander 
 could hardly be conceived, he nevertheless longed 
 to be back. Already sufficiently enraged at the 
 law's endless delay, he was driven quite beside him- 
 self by the fast succeeding reports of the glorious 
 victory of Decatur, captain of the United States, 
 and of the sailing of the Constitution from Boston 
 on another cruise. 
 
 He felt slighted and neglected, checked in his 
 career, and cheated of his rights. He was hardly 
 appeased by the news that Hull and Decatur were 
 corning to New York to take part in a grand glori- 
 fication over their victories, and that Congress had 
 munificently ordered fifty thousand dollars to be 
 divided among the officers and crew of the Consti- 
 tution. 
 
 Amid the clangor of bells, the booming of cannon, 
 and the huzzahs of the multitude, the heroic pair 
 duly arrive*. Zach lost no time in waiting upon 
 his old captain, when it transpired that, after all, 
 he need not have stayed dancing attendance upon 
 the courts, but might as well have gone off with his 
 ship on her new cruise. The unflattering truth 
 appeared ; he had simply been forgotten. His out-
 
 204 ZACHARY PII1PS. 
 
 raged feelings were not assuaged by Captain Hull's 
 kind commendation of his fidelity, nor by the pay- 
 ment to him of his share of the money voted by 
 Congress to the officers and crew. 
 
 He stuffed the roll of bills in his trousers pocket, 
 and on reaching home tossed it contemptuously on 
 the table. Coming upon it, however, next morning 
 in a cooler mood, he bethought him to count it, and 
 uttered a cry of astonishment. 
 
 A thousand dollars! A thousand, and all his 
 own! It was the wealth of the Indies. What to 
 do with so vast a sum ! 
 
 Quite at a loss to decide for himself, he resolved 
 to consult his lawyer, and thereupon remembered 
 that he had an appointment to meet Captain Hull 
 at Burr's office at midday. 
 
 "A thousand dollars! " There was a momentary 
 kindling in the lawyer's eyes on hearing the amount. 
 "A large sum to carry about in your pocket! " 
 
 "I don't know what else to do with it." 
 
 "You are unskilled, perhaps," went on the attor- 
 ney, regarding his young client with critical atten- 
 tion, "in making investments?" 
 
 "I never had any to make; that's why I have 
 come to consult you." 
 
 "Humph! I have my self in years past done a good 
 deal in that way," with watchful ey* still fixed 
 upon his client, "and if you want " 
 
 "Yes, yes, I do. I would like to have you take 
 and invest it.." 
 
 "I might try," with a careless little wave of the 
 hand.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 205 
 
 Without further ado Zach drew forth the crisp 
 banknotes from his pocket, smoothed them out, 
 and extended them towards his counsel, who 
 stretched forth his hand to take them. 
 
 At that moment the door opened quickly, and 
 the burly figure of Captain Hull appeared on the 
 threshold. 
 
 Burr's face, long disciplined in every school of 
 dissimulation, remained immovable, but his nerves 
 were no longer what they had been, and thus the 
 sudden entrance of this keen-eyed stranger discom- 
 posed him. He withdrew his hand with a percepti- 
 ble start, but directly recovering himself, said in a 
 tone of nonchalance, 
 
 " Another time, Mr. Phips, to-morrow, when- 
 ever you like. There is no haste." 
 
 Zach looked puzzled, but made no comment, and 
 introduced his superior. 
 
 An hour afterward, when, having accompanied 
 the captain home, Zach turned to take leave, he 
 received this significant parting advice : 
 
 "My boy, I saw you having some money transac- 
 tion with that man yonder. I don't ask any ques- 
 tions. I don't want to know anything about it, but 
 I '11 whisper this word in your ear; all lawyers are 
 landsharks. Keep out of their jaws!"" 
 
 Making due allowance for the bluff sailor's preju- 
 dice, Zach took to heart the warning, and pondered 
 it as he strolled leisurely homeward. Startled out 
 of his reverie by a heavy slap on the shoulder, he 
 looked up and recognized an old acquaintance, who 
 proved to be no other than the midshipman from the
 
 206 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 frigate United States whom Decatur had sent to 
 
 o 
 
 carry to Washington the news of his victory, now 
 on the way back to rejoin his ship. 
 
 Pining as he had been for congenial society ever 
 since he came ashore, Zach was delighted at the 
 encounter. With their pockets full of prize money, 
 exhilarated by the spirit of jubilation in the air, 
 these two boon companions spent the evening in 
 congratulations. To be quite frank, it may as well 
 be confessed, they made a night of it. 
 
 Neither of them, next day, could recall clearly 
 the events of that memorable night. There were 
 confused remembrances of a theatre, of a riotous 
 supper, and of finding themselves seated before a 
 green table playing some game of chance, in which 
 they were relieved of much of their money. Con- 
 fused, too, was their recollection of the fracas which 
 followed, save that some sneering civilian had re- 
 flected upon the navy, for which Zach's friend 
 had promptly kn6cked down and otherwise roughly 
 handled him. Thereafter, in some inscrutable way, 
 the police had appeared, seized upon the assailant, 
 and dragged him off to the lock-up, Zach boozily 
 following after, swearing incoherent vengeance upon 
 the minions of the law. 
 
 Left alone in the silent streets, one thought only 
 recurred to his muddled wits : to find his old com- 
 mander, who had been to him so long a prototype 
 of invincible nerve and unfailing resource. Happily 
 he had been before to his lodgings, and knew the 
 way. 
 
 Although not literally "the worst inn's worst
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 207 
 
 room," the former Vice-President of the United 
 States was found in sufficiently humble quarters. 
 After much pounding on the door and shouting, 
 Zach was at last admitted by a half -clothed person, 
 who objected in emphatic terms to having his house- 
 hold disturbed at such an unseemly hour. Royally 
 indifferent to his strictures, Zach demanded to see 
 Colonel Burr, and was profanely directed to the top 
 of the house. 
 
 Blundering up the narrow, crooked stairs, Zach 
 knocked at the first door he came to. Receiving no 
 answer after repeated summons, he lifted the latch 
 and flung open the door. His tipsy hardihood fal- 
 tered before the spectacle disclosed. 
 
 At a table, dressed in a faded wrapper, sat Burr, 
 an open letter in one hand, in the other a miniature 
 of a child, on which his tearless eyes were fixed with 
 a look of pitiable anguish. From his face the pride, 
 the self-sustaining force which had held him stiffly 
 up against so many slings and arrows of outrageous 
 fortune, all gone, he seemed like one in a state of 
 collapse. Looking up and noting his visitor, he 
 stared at him blankly, but showed no surprise, and 
 uttered no greeting. 
 
 Obtusely, Zach went on and told his errand. The 
 hapless man heeded nothing of it. At a loss what 
 next to do, the intruder stood staring at the floor, 
 when Burr, suddenly rising, handed him the letter. 
 
 Despite the fact that everything about him was 
 still in a state of unsettled equilibrium, by catching 
 here and there a floating line or phrase, Zach made 
 out the date, Charlestown, at the top, the name,
 
 208 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 
 
 Alston, at the bottom, and the gist of the sad an- 
 nouncement between. He remembered, then ; Mrs. 
 Blennerhassett had often told him how the bereaved 
 man had idolized this one grandchild, Theodosia's 
 son. 
 
 "Gone gone gone gone," repeated the 
 mourner, gazing at the miniature; "all I had, all 
 that could reconcile me to this," with a wave of the 
 hand that pathetically included the whole sordid, 
 grinding routine of his existence. 
 
 The visitor was sobered. Rallying his wits, he 
 clumsily expressed his sympathy, and with a mut- 
 tered apology for his untimely intrusion turned to 
 withdraw. 
 
 Aroused by the movement, Burr asked if he had 
 any errand, whereupon Zach repeated his story. 
 
 Recalled to himself by this practical appeal, Burr 
 reflected a moment, and promised to be present next 
 morning on the arraignment of the culprit. 
 
 Zach, meanwhile, awaiting with anxiety this as- 
 surance, toyed with a trifle which he had mechani- 
 cally picked up from the litter on the table. Un- 
 consciously, as he talked, he had carried it several 
 times to his nose. Rising now to go, and noting the 
 lodger's glittering eyes fixed upon him with a pecu- 
 liar expression, he threw the article down : it was a 
 woman's glove perfumed with musk. 
 
 Next morning, true to his word, Burr appeared in 
 court in behalf of the unruly midshipman, and by 
 dint of his admirable skill and persistence succeeded 
 in getting the young man released upon bail in a sum 
 far less than that at first set by the court. Zach
 
 ZACHARY PUIPS. 209 
 
 stepped promptly forward as bondsman, and depos- 
 ited the amount required as security, which, be it 
 said, the grateful culprit failed not to make good to 
 his friend the moment they reached Burr's office. 
 
 "And now, sir," demanded the defendant of his 
 counsel, "what do you think are the chances?" 
 
 "The chances," calmly returned his counsel, "are 
 that you will be sent to serve a term in the peniten- 
 tiary for assault and battery." 
 
 "Is there no way to get out of it? " grumbled the 
 dismayed offender. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Eh what?" 
 
 "The amount of bail, thanks to your counsel, is 
 very small; divided between you two, it would be 
 but a bagatelle." 
 
 "Well? "breathlessly. 
 
 The two ingenuous clients stood staring at their 
 counsel, who, returning them a very significant look, 
 remained silent. 
 
 "What do you advise us to do?" demanded the 
 obtuse pair in chorus. 
 
 "Gentlemen," answered their imperturbable coun- 
 sel, drawing a snuff-box from his pocket, deliber- 
 ately taking a pinch of the fragrant dust, and dain- 
 tily dusting his fingers, "I advise you to 
 think it over." 
 
 "To be sure," cried the defendant, suddenly; "I 
 see, I know. What fools we are ! " and he whis- 
 pered in Zach's ear. 
 
 Ardently the two thanked their ingenious adviser, 
 and took their leave. Reaching the street, they
 
 210 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 found the town ringing with the news of another 
 great victory gained by the Constitution. 
 
 Unable longer to restrain himself, Zach bade 
 good-by to his friend, hurried around to pay his 
 parting respects to Captain Hull, and before the 
 day was an hour older, was on his way to Boston 
 to rejoin his dear old frigate.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 ARRIVED in Boston, Zach found himself in a low 
 and self -condemnatory state of mind. He reflected 
 with abasement that his final exploits in New York 
 were not in line with certain heroic models secretly 
 nourished by him. How well for hero-worshipers 
 that the lives of their models are not more closely 
 written! Floundering thus in a quagmire of dis- 
 content, he looked askance upon all mankind, as 
 if sullenly holding society responsible for his own 
 backsliding. 
 
 With regard to Boston he was surprised to find 
 his feeling quite changed. Aversion had given place 
 to curiosity and interest. This revolution of senti- 
 ment had gone on unconsciously, even-paced, with 
 the physical revolution which had brought the virile 
 look to his bronzed face, the hardened muscle to his 
 arm, the deepened tone to his voice, and the down 
 to his lip. With regard to his own kin, assuredly 
 he had no longer anything either to fear or to expect. 
 Deep in his heart, indeed, he may have had a feeling 
 of superiority to that household in Salutation Alley, 
 with its bounded horizon and its narrow interests. 
 
 To whatever cause due, it was at any rate with 
 a look of resolution which betrayed no shrinking 
 that, on the day after his arrival, he set forth for 
 the North End. Halting at Dock Square, he turned
 
 212 ZACHARY PUIPS. 
 
 for a moment into the old Brasier Inn, where he 
 had taken refuge on the day of his flight. Thence 
 pursuing his way by the selfsame route followed on 
 that memorable day, he found himself at last in 
 Salutation Alley. Alack for the recollections of 
 childhood ! What a shabby little place it had be- 
 come! Everything had wofully dwarfed. Nature 
 itself had dwindled; the bay had narrowed to half 
 its former size; the peninsula had contracted; the 
 garden had squeezed up to a sorry little patch. 
 Nothing, it seemed, but the boundless ether and the 
 inaccessible sky remained unshrunk. 
 
 Filled with these thoughts, Zach made his way 
 to the honest maltster's door, how humble and 
 forlorn it seemed! 
 
 Pausing a moment on the cracked slate-stone step, 
 he at last sounded the knocker. The door was 
 opened by a half -grown girl, evidently, from a cer- 
 tain Dinely cast of features, one of his step-sisters. 
 She surveyed him with curiosity not unmixed with 
 awe, the effect, no doubt, of his uniform. He asked 
 for Mr. Phips. The girl nodded, made way for 
 him to enter, led the way into the little parlor, and 
 incontinently disappeared. 
 
 Zach rubbed his eyes and looked about. Should 
 he trust old remembrances or present impressions? 
 Mechanically he put up his hand and touched the 
 ceiling. Could, then, this dark, barren, low-browed 
 little space be the room which aforetime he had 
 held so grand, so sacred, so awful? There could be 
 no mistake. Faithful memory verified every paltry 
 detail : the braided rag mats on the painted floor ;
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 213 
 
 the stiff little sofa and four mahogany chairs cov- 
 ered with haircloth; the bare, whitewashed walls, 
 adorned with cheap prints of Washingon and Jef- 
 ferson; the mended china vase filled with dried 
 grasses on the narrow mantelpiece ; the framed sam- 
 pler hanging above, setting forth the Beatitudes in 
 faded worsted, the handiwork of Rebecca Dinely at 
 the age of eighteen; the cold, bare little hearth; 
 the fireplace filled with asparagus-boughs; the jeal- 
 ously-drawn green paper shades, giving everything 
 within a livid hue ; all these were, indeed, the iden- 
 tical objects of long ago, and the old feeling of tres- 
 pass stole over him as he sat on the hard little sofa 
 awaiting the result of his summons. 
 
 The distant slamming of a door and the sharp 
 tones of a well-remembered voice -made him move 
 uneasily in his seat. Presently a blundering step 
 was heard in the passage, and directly the door 
 opened and his father came in, hat in hand, awk- 
 wardly smoothing his front locks. He had aged a 
 good deal, more than Zach was prepared for; old 
 lines had deepened in his face; many others had 
 been added, all disfiguring in that they were the 
 script of small thoughts and sordid cares. Noting 
 these effects with only a dim suspicion of their 
 causes, Zach was perceptibly shocked. He had re- 
 membered his father as a grave, quiet man. He was 
 disappointed, perhaps, to find that the gravity in 
 him did not stand for dignity, and that a lurking 
 gleam of shrewdness, not to be closely distinguished 
 from cunning, in his small gray eyes was all that 
 saved his face from vacuity.
 
 214 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 The maltster stood awkwardly near the door, star- 
 ing at his visitor without a sign of recognition. 
 
 "I guess you don't know me," ventured Zach. 
 
 "No-o, I reckon I don't." 
 
 "You used to know me pooty well." 
 
 "Mebbe I did, but I don't seem ter remember 
 folks as I used ter." 
 
 "I'm Zach." 
 
 "What! Our Zach? thet run away? Ye 
 don't say ! " 
 
 Whereupon, without another word of greeting 
 or welcome, he stepped into the passage and called 
 excitedly, 
 
 "Mother! Mother!" 
 
 A voice answered inarticulately through a closed 
 door. 
 
 "Come here!" 
 
 Then stepping back into the parlor, the father 
 surveyed his son with curious eyes, saying over and 
 over again, 
 
 " Wall, wall, I never did ! It beats all ! " 
 
 Mrs. Phips came in, betraying a consciousness of 
 her toilet similar to that displayed by her husband, 
 fumbling with the ends of a faded handkerchief 
 which she had hurriedly tied about her neck, and 
 tucking a wandering scolding-lock behind her right 
 ear. Although Zach said not a word, directly her 
 eyes became adjusted to the gloom of the place, she 
 recognized him. 
 
 "So ye 've come back," was her composed greet- 
 ing. "I thought mos' likely 't was you." 
 
 "I should never 'a' know'd him in the world," 
 put in Mr. Phips.
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 215 
 
 "I should 'a' know'd him fast enough," was Mrs. 
 Becky's dry comment. 
 
 "What ye got on? Is thet some kind of a uni- 
 form?" queried the elder Phips. 
 
 Zach nodded. 
 
 "Ye ain't gone inter the army?" 
 
 "No, navy." 
 
 "Ye don't say!" 
 
 "An' the best thingye could 'a' done," said Mrs. 
 Becky, seating herself on the little sofa and leveling 
 her spectacles for a raking survey of her visitor, 
 " though they say it 's an awful place for a Christian 
 to be in, with their swearin' and drinkin' and fight- 
 in'. But it takes all sorts o' folks to make a world, 
 an' ef that kind is born, they 've got to live some- 
 w'eres, I s'pose. At any rate, they make 'em toe 
 the mark there, so I reckon ye 've larned how to 
 mind better 'n ye used ter." 
 
 Zach coughed uneasily, but did not condescend to 
 answer. 
 
 "What ship ye ben aboard on? "demanded his 
 father. 
 
 " Constitution. " 
 
 " What ? Not the one that licked the Britishers ? " 
 
 Zach nodded. 
 
 The old man's face flushed with pride, and he 
 regarded his son with a look of undisguised admi- 
 ration. 
 
 "Was you in the fight? " he asked, almost breath- 
 lessly. 
 
 "Yeah." 
 
 The father rubbed his hands and evidently re-
 
 216 ZACHART PHIPS. 
 
 frained with difficulty from expressing his satisfac- 
 tion in a more demonstrative way. Even Mrs. 
 Becky was moved, as was apparent from her next 
 remark, which betrayed a careful compromise be- 
 tween prejudices. 
 
 "Wall, ef ther 's got to be fightin', an' I s'pose 
 ther hez, ez long as Satan holds his own on the 
 footstool, I'm glad ye beat 'em ! They 've ben 
 a-hectorin' an' a-pickin' on us, tell from all 't I can 
 hear flesh an' blood couldn't put up with it no 
 longer. I hope they '11 larn by an' by to mind their 
 own business, an' let us alone! " 
 
 "They got enough on 't once afore, you 'd think," 
 put in the old man again, with a wag of his head. 
 
 Conscious of one or two faces peeping in at the 
 door, Zach, by way of changing the subject, asked 
 after the children. 
 
 "They 're w-all enough. Come in, ef ye want 
 ter, but don't stan' there an' gawp ! " continued 
 Mrs. Becky, turning towards her offspring, who, 
 thus addressed, withdrew in confusion. 
 
 "They're kind o' bashful," said their father 
 apologetically. 
 
 "How long you gon' to be here?" asked Mrs. 
 Becky, again addressing her visitor, whether with 
 the purpose of making talk, or of putting to rest a 
 fluttering fear lest the prodigal had come home to 
 settle down at the paternal hearth. 
 
 "I dunno." 
 
 "Ahem!" 
 
 If Mrs. Becky had any hospitable intent, she could 
 not bring herself to further it.
 
 ZACHAKY PHIPS. 217 
 
 Thereupon followed an awkward pause, and Zach, 
 finding the conversation uphill work, rose and took 
 his cap from the table. 
 
 "What, you ain't a-goin'? Why er I 
 we " 
 
 The worthy maltster dared not complete the sen- 
 tence which trembled on his lip, but looked help- 
 lessly at his wife, who filled the pause with a depre- 
 cating cough. 
 
 "Yeah, I got a good deal to do," muttered Zach. 
 The fib would have done honor to a social veteran. 
 
 "W-all, now, I got to go down to the malthouse. 
 Guess I '11 walk along o' ye," said his father, with 
 a knowing wink. 
 
 It was an old trick. Often and often in the old 
 times, on occasions of discipline, when he dared not 
 interfere, the elder had flashed at the boy this signal 
 of sympathy and understanding. Repeated now to 
 his keener vision, it came with a new significance, 
 illuminating the whole past like a flash-light. It 
 gave him a new thought with regard to his father, a 
 thought that the shy, silent, long-suffering man had 
 some resource of consolation undiscovered, some cit- 
 adel of character and experience uninvaded, some 
 secret unsuspected and unshared by his vigilant 
 helpmeet. 
 
 Already, father and son had reached the door, 
 when Mrs. Becky, thinking, perhaps, it was her last 
 opportunity, and that old offenses had been too 
 lightly condoned, cleared her throat and summed up 
 the past and present in one comprehensive phrase, 
 
 "W-all, for my part, I'm glad ye hain't turned
 
 218 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 out any wuss. I 'm free to say I did n't see any 
 hopes of ye. 'T ain't no use goin' over it now. 
 'T ain't no use sayin' what I think 'bout your run- 
 nin' away an' never sendin' back no word to say 
 you war n't dead. I don't b'lieve in thrashin' over 
 old straw, anyway. I 'm willin' to let bygones be 
 bygones. I 'm willin' to gin ye all the chance ye 
 can git. Ther ain't no danger o' yer turnin' out a 
 saint. I don't s'pose ye 've ben inside a meetin'- 
 house sence ye left home? " 
 
 Zach disregarded the interrogation point, and for 
 all his indignation could find no rejoinder to Mrs. 
 Becky's shaft. In the old days she had shown her- 
 self possessed of an especial facidty for putting him 
 in the wrong, and it was clear she had not lost it. 
 Withal, he went forth from the little cottage with a 
 baffled feeling, with a poignant remembrance of his 
 old attitude of insubordination, with a sense of being 
 still unregenerate. Glancing askance at his father, 
 as they went down the narrow lane, he wondered 
 less at the latter's subdued and deprecating air, and 
 reflected, perhaps, that a man put forever on the 
 defensive must in time acquire the defendant look 
 and manner. 
 
 On the way, his father in a measure threw off his 
 constraint, and showed a natural feeling in his son's 
 return. He plied Zach with questions, evinced the 
 deepest interest in his story, and in his turn poured 
 into his son's ear counter confidences, to the effect 
 that he had a large family, that it was hard getting 
 along, that the business was not what it used to be 
 before the General Court began to interfere with it,
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 219 
 
 that he was getting to be an old man, that he had 
 the asthma, and that, in fine, he was glad he had 
 one son who could take care of himself. 
 
 Preoccupied with old recollections, Zach quite 
 unheeded the little note of adroitness in all this, 
 as he followed his father up the worn steps of the 
 malthouse, through the warped door, and in and 
 out among the bins of barley, the vats and brewing 
 kettles, wondering why the peculiar sour odor of 
 fermentation should, so much more effectively than 
 any other sense-association, bring back old scenes 
 and memories. 
 
 When, at last, it came time to go, he found it 
 unexpectedly hard to say good-by. A true filial 
 feeling the first he had ever known sprang up 
 within him on witnessing his father's unmistakable 
 emotion. The old man seemed to cling to him as if 
 soon expecting to need the support of a younger and 
 stronger arm. After shaking hands again and 
 again, he fumbled for a long time in his pocket, and, 
 with many signs of doubt and hesitation, brought 
 forth at last a greasy wallet, and? drawing from it 
 a ten-dollar note, pressed it upon his departing son. 
 
 Zach' s eyes sparkled. A sudden thought occurred 
 to him. 
 
 "No, no. Not for me," he cried. "I have more 
 money now than I know what to do with. Here, 
 you shall take care of it forme! " and drawing forth 
 the remains of his prize-money in a huge roll of 
 bills, he thrust them upon his astonished and de- 
 lighted father, and hurried away. 
 
 Next day, making inquiries about the Constitu-
 
 220 ZACHARY PHI PS. 
 
 tion, Zach learned that the now famous frigate was 
 indeed in harbor, but in such a battered condition, 
 after her fight with the Java, as to need a thorough 
 overhauling, that this would lay her up for a long 
 time, and that, meanwhile, many of her crew were 
 shipping on board the Chesapeake, a new frigate 
 just come into port, and greatly in need of men. 
 Falling in with some of his old messmates, Zach was 
 easily persuaded to follow suit. 
 
 Going on board the new vessel for the first time, 
 he was cordially welcomed, but experienced, never- 
 theless, a distinct disappointment. He could neither 
 account for it nor reason it down. Captain Law- 
 rence and Lieutenant Ludlow, to be sure, looked 
 like experienced seamen and able officers, but for 
 the crew, they were a veritable set of landlubbers. 
 As he noted their awkward movements and lack of 
 discipline, and realized that from stern to forecastle 
 there could not be found a spark of confidence or 
 enthusiasm, a heavy homesickness settled down upon 
 the new recruit. 
 
 This feeling of distrust was confirmed by num- 
 berless little circumstances, as the time for sailing 
 drew near, among which, not to be neglected, was 
 the parting word of his father. 
 
 " 'Listed agin, hev ye? Seems to me I sh'd 
 ruther 'a' stuck to the old ship. This un may turn 
 out jest ez good, but I dunno. When 'd ye enlist? 
 Not yisterday, I hope? " 
 
 "Yeah." 
 
 "Moses ah' Aaron!" burst out the maltster, 
 an expletive only resorted to on strong occasions.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 221 
 
 "What's the matter?" 
 
 The old man reflected a minute, and modified his 
 tone. 
 
 "Wall, ef it's done, it's done, an' th' ain't no 
 use cryin' over spilt milk; but don't ever do no 
 sech thing agin on Friday! " 
 
 Noting the amused look of his son, the elder ex- 
 plained. 
 
 "I ain't a mite superstitious, Zach, but ther 's a 
 good deal more in old signs than folks think. I 
 don't ever set out ter do any thin' pertickler on a 
 Friday. It 's hangman's day, an' thet ain't the 
 wust ter be said about it." 
 
 Although Zach did not attach undue importance 
 to this paternal whim, it served to add one more to 
 the depressing influences which attended upon his 
 departure. 
 
 Pondering these matters, after taking leave of his 
 father, he wandered around into North Bennet 
 Street. The afternoon was on the wane, and so it 
 chanced that, as he approached the schoolhouse, the 
 door opened and the boys came rushing forth in a 
 riotous mob. 
 
 But where were the big boys ? Could it be that 
 those of his time were no larger than these? These 
 were but lispers and sucklings. 
 
 As he stood looking after the noisy rout, meditat- 
 ing this point, the doorway was filled again, and 
 down the steps, like a ghost of the past, came a 
 spare, old-time figure, Master Tileston himself, 
 in what seemed the self -same hat and wig, waistcoat 
 and small-clothes, he had worn so long ago.
 
 222 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 Supporting his unsteady footsteps with the once 
 formidable cane, he passed slowly on, gazing blankly 
 into the face of his former pupil, who, looking after 
 him with a touch of pity and veneration, wondered 
 how he ever could have stood in such dread of the 
 tottering old man. 
 
 Going on board his new frigate an hour later, Zach 
 found the whole ship's company discussing a start- 
 ling rumor, to wit: that the British frigate Shan- 
 non, Captain Philip Bowes Vere Broke, was lurking 
 outside the harbor, waiting for them to come out. 
 
 Directly, Zach's blood was fired. Doubt and 
 distrust vanished like fogs before the sun. Putting 
 aside all regrets for his old ship and officers, there 
 kindled within him an ardent loyalty for the new. 
 Caring nothing for ways and means, he burned only 
 to rush to the assault of the insolent stranger. 
 
 The crew were gathered in knots on the main 
 deck discussing the news, while the officers, shut 
 up in the cabin, decided upon their course. Com- 
 ing forth, Captain Lawrence was seen to cast his 
 eyes thoughtfully over his raw and undisciplined 
 crew. Whatever inward qualms he had, however, 
 no shadow of doubt or hesitation crossed his resolute 
 face, as with firm step and clear voice he gave 
 orders to hasten the preparations to get under way. 
 
 Remembrances of certain late experiences with 
 the Bonne Citoyenne, Espiegne, and Peacock may 
 well have given him faith in his star. Yet, while 
 he shrank not from the conflict, he well knew the 
 odds against him, knew that he was to engage 
 one of the stanchest ships in the British fleet, com-
 
 ZACHARY PHI PS. 223 
 
 raanded by a martinet who had drilled his men to 
 move and fight like a machine. 
 
 Against every dictate of judgment and prudence, 
 the hapless officer made ready for the fray. No 
 alternative was left him. The hand of fate was in 
 it. Though his star of prestige hastened to a sure 
 eclipse, he must needs go on. 
 
 A rumor was spread that the British captain had 
 sent in a challenge for the Yankee to come out. 
 The town was alive with excitement. The whole 
 country-side was flocking to the hills to see the bat- 
 tle, and were capable, in a frenzy of disappoint- 
 ment, of burning the Chesapeake to the water's 
 edge, had her commander shown a moment's scru- 
 ple in meeting the Britisher. 
 
 So one burning midday, under the cloudless sky 
 of early June, the Chesapeake sailed out of the har- 
 bor. Far away on the misty horizon stood the wait- 
 ing enemy. It was like a scene set for a play : the 
 amphitheatre of hills thronged with the breathless 
 populace, the actors entering from right and left. 
 Promptly they entered, and through all the golden 
 afternoon parried and mano3uvred, like two wrestlers 
 in a ring. Watchfully they approached, warily 
 played for position. At last came the attack; with 
 foresail hauled up and ensigns flying, the Chesa- 
 peake steered straight for her antagonist. 
 
 She found herself in the clutches of a giant. The 
 conflict was short and sharp. The hills resounded 
 with the shock of it. With the precision of a ma- 
 chine the Shannon poured in her deadly broadsides. 
 The dazed novices on the Chesapeake were mowed
 
 224 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 down like sheep. The deck could not be seen for 
 the flying splinters. The officers fought like men 
 inspired. Undismayed upon the quarter-deck, Law- 
 rence stood amidst the havoc, urging on his panic- 
 stricken crew. His tall figure was a tempting mark, 
 the fatal bullet came at last. 
 
 Zach stood near the companion-way on the main 
 deck, serving his gun, when the stricken captain was 
 brought below. Recognizing the uniform, he has- 
 tened to lend a hand. The dying man opened his 
 eyes, gathered his strength, and gasped out five im- 
 mortal words, 
 
 "Don't give up the ship ! " 
 
 Scarcely was the order pronounced when an up- 
 roar arose on the upper deck, a marine with staring 
 eyes came flying down with the hoarse cry that 
 Lieutenant Ludlow had fallen, Lieutenant Cox 
 had disappeared, and the enemy were boarding. 
 Leaving his dying captain, Lieutenant Budd called 
 on the crew to follow him, and rushed for the upper 
 deck. Zach followed close upon his heels, but for 
 the rest, hardly a dozen men heard, or, hearing, re- 
 sponded. 
 
 Few more appalling scenes ever fell on mortal 
 sight, where amid the blinding smoke, the deafening 
 din, the crashing splinters, the whistling bullets, the 
 dismantled guns, the torn and entangled rigging, 
 destruction raged unchecked; where lying in heaps, 
 dismembered, gory, the dead formed a ghastly ram- 
 part, behind which the chaplain, sole leader left, 
 at the head of a wavering body of marines, vainly 
 strove to withstand the invading horde.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 225 
 
 Into the midst of this, stanchly supporting his 
 lieutenant, Zach rushed undismayed. For a time, 
 possessed by the fiend of carnage, they stood and 
 fought. Nothing could avail against overpowering 
 odds. Hacked by cutlasses, riddled by balls, over- 
 borne by the press of numbers, this little forlorn 
 hope, step by step, were driven back, till, weakened 
 by loss of blood, exhausted by incredible effort, one 
 by one they reeled and tottered down the main 
 hatchway upon the senseless form of their comman- 
 der, the enemy, to complete his work, firing a 
 volley downward into the weltering heap.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 WITH his few surviving shipmates Zach was car- 
 ried captive to Halifax, where, between the hospital 
 and the prison, he divided his time until the end of 
 the war. Like other things finite, the war, perhaps 
 the most futile ever waged, had an end, an end, 
 be it added, barren and unsatisfactory enough, for 
 not a point had been scored. The ostensible issue 
 upon which it had been waged remained unsettled, 
 and American commerce was, as before, left to the 
 impudent invasion of the British press-gang. What 
 wonder that the news of the ex post facto victory of 
 New Orleans came like balm to the smarting wounds 
 of national pride, or that the name of Andrew Jack- 
 son was bruited to the skies! 
 
 Hearing that name on coming forth from his 
 prison at Halifax, Zach, like others of his country- 
 men, had good cause then and afterwards to remem- 
 ber it. For the present moment it served chiefly to 
 direct his thoughts to New Orleans. More than any 
 other place, that city seemed to him like home. 
 There his happiest hours had been passed; there 
 his dearest recollections centred. Now, ships of all 
 nations were flocking to the reopened port for a 
 share of its cotton treasures. 
 
 Whereupon, concluding that there was no present 
 hope of advancement in the service, he duly ob-
 
 ZACHABY PH1PS. 227 
 
 tained his discharge, and, making his way to New 
 York, yielded to an inward yearning, and shipped 
 on board the first coaster bound to the Gulf. 
 
 For all his warlike experience, he was not pre- 
 pared for the havoc which had been wrought in the 
 fair Crescent City. He scarcely recognized the 
 once prosperous town. Its individuality was lost. 
 Everywhere the subverting hand of -war had been 
 heavily laid. Throngs of soldiers and army-follow- 
 ers, new types of civilians, with long hair and broad- 
 brimmed hats, venting strange oaths and disporting 
 themselves with much swagger, filled the public 
 places. More English, if English it could be 
 called, and less French, was heard in the street- 
 talk ; and in short, the old civilization seemed riot so 
 much replaced, as overlaid, by one new and incon- 
 gruous. 
 
 Wandering hap-hazard, Zach found himself in the 
 neighborhood of M. Lescomt's office, but having 
 reached the door, hesitated to go in. Remem- 
 brances of his last visit may have stayed him. A 
 moment's reflection, a glance down at his trim dress, 
 however., decided the matter, and he sounded the 
 knocker. Perhaps he was not unwilling that his 
 old friend should see the change which had been 
 wrought in him, a change of which he seemed 
 well aware. He may even have counted with satis- 
 faction upon the impression he was about to make, 
 for his face fell, and he was plainly taken aback, 
 when told that the little attorney was absent from 
 home on a visit to France. 
 
 Disappointed in missing the only friend he had
 
 228 ZACUABY PHIPS. 
 
 in the city, he next made his way out to Basswood. 
 Long before arriving he was filled with misgivings, 
 for all along the road were strewn marks of the de- 
 structive occupancy of the invading army. Not, 
 however, until he reached the plantation did the 
 visitor fully realize the blighting possibilities of war. 
 Of that once thriving demesne, of that peacefid, 
 happy home, scarcely a trace was left. 
 
 The mansion had been burned, and some earth- 
 works crowned the elevation where it once stood. 
 The offices, the sugar-houses, even the negro quar- 
 ters, had been swept away. The fertile fields had 
 been laid waste. A litter of all imaginable mate- 
 rial rags, boxes, camp-utensils, rusty weapons, 
 heap's of straw, bones, paper denied the once beau- 
 tiful lawn ; while of the fine old trees, the few left 
 standing had been hopelessly mutilated. 
 
 Down along the lake-side reigned a worse des- 
 olation. The former tangle of vines and shrub- 
 bery^ which had made the shore a bower, had been 
 burned, the larger trees had been felled, and, to- 
 gether with the planks of the landing, had been used 
 in making a rude abattis ; while worse than all, his 
 beloved little boat-house had been converted into a 
 deposit for offal. 
 
 Sickened and revolted, he stood and looked about, 
 quite unable to realize that this was indeed the spot 
 where he had spent so many happy and memorable 
 hours. 
 
 He turned away with a shudder. Along the 
 gloomy, wreck-strewn road back to the city, he stag- 
 gered like one in liquor. Things were not at their
 
 ZACHARY PUIPS. 229 
 
 best with him. Without friends, without influence, 
 without prospects visible or probable, the last spot 
 of earth with which he had an endearing association 
 transformed into a ghastly waste, it must be con- 
 fessed the world did not present itself in alluring 
 colors as a place of abode. 
 
 Two meagre sources of comfort were left him: 
 one, the thought of finding Sandy ; the other, some 
 indeterminate yearnings vaguely associated with the 
 name "Nassau." 
 
 Withal he returned to New Orleans in a rebel- 
 lious mood. Notwithstanding some severe discipline 
 in the past, it was evident that he had not acquired 
 a submissive attitude with regard to life. He must 
 needs be kicking against the pricks. Lacking other 
 confidant, he conversed with himself, audibly and in 
 emphatic terms. 
 
 Howbeit, so far from being inclined to mope, he 
 was in a feverish haste to get away from the vicin- 
 ity, and all reminder of it. 
 
 With no call of duty from any point of the com- 
 pass, that subtended chord of inclination before 
 noted determined the matter of direction. Allow- 
 ing himself no time for change of mind or purpose, 
 in two hours he was upon the way. It was the first 
 step that cost, and he took it blindly. 
 
 Tampa, the nearest point of communication with 
 the Bahamas, he reached like one walking in his 
 sleep, he never knew how. There he had the 
 good luck to catch a schooner just setting sail for 
 Nassau. Idly, even then, he reflected upon the 
 oddity of her name, little conscious how signifi-
 
 ZACHAEY PHI PS. 
 
 cant it was destined to prove; she was called the 
 Chance. 
 
 Chance had thus far been indeed a potent factor 
 in his life. He pleased himself with the fancy of 
 being still chance-led, and would allow no discussion 
 of the question "whither?" and "wherefore?" 
 which reason, or prudence, or some tiresome inter- 
 nal mentor kept striving to thrust upon him. 
 
 In this purposeless state he in due time arrived 
 at his destination. One bright morning, in that 
 climate where the mornings are always bright, they 
 wound their way in among the coral reefs, and cast 
 anchor in the bright green waters of Nassau's tiny 
 harbor. 
 
 During the voyage, the solitary passenger of the 
 Chance had heard with profound indifference that 
 the little vessel belonged to a worthy Scotch trader 
 one Alexander Arbuthnot of Nassau, who had 
 grown rich carrying on a thriving trade with the 
 Florida Indians, exchanging the odds and ends of 
 civilization for their peltry, which he shipped to 
 London at a great profit. 
 
 As they tacked back and forth to make the land- 
 ing, Zach had leisure to study the place. He 
 scanned it with interest while reviewing all he had 
 heard of its history. What was there, then, about 
 this bit of an island which had given it such renown ? 
 which had caused it to serve as a football, to be 
 kicked about for a century and more on the historic 
 stage? which had made it so long the stamping- 
 ground of smugglers, the haunt of wreckers, and the 
 stronghold of pirates? He was disappointed to find
 
 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 231 
 
 in its aspect nothing noteworthy, neither high 
 mountains, deep valleys, beetling cliffs, nor spread- 
 ing prairies, to give point to its dramatic story. 
 Never, indeed, had he detected Nature in a mood 
 more humdrum. As for man's part in it, the snug 
 little town presented features no more striking than 
 the open. Architecturally it was as commonplace 
 as might be, with only the two forts to the right 
 and left, and a feeble sprinkling of cupolas and 
 steeples between. 
 
 On nearer acquaintance, as the new-comer soon 
 found, Nassau, like many an unpretentious human 
 being, disclosed a distinct charm. Although, as a 
 whole, monotonous and unimpressive, oddly enough 
 its chief features, the vegetation, the buildings, and 
 the humanity, were markedly picturesque. Other 
 things, too, there were, to please the fancy and 
 haunt the memory : the streets abounding with sharp 
 shadows, beyond which the sunshine lay white and 
 still on the hard coral pavement; the high, cream - 
 colored garden walls, which here and there had 
 taken on with time wondrous tints of olive and 
 bronze ; the floral treasures within those mysterious 
 closes, scarlet poinsettias, the deep-red hibiscus, 
 pink and white oleanders, orange-flowers, roses of 
 every hue gleaming forth from a dark background 
 of palmettos, bananas, and cocoanuts, above which 
 here and there towered majestically a royal palm, 
 suggesting in its stately grace a Moorish turret or 
 Indian minaret, here was a feast for every sense. 
 
 Bounding up at last to the landing, Zach beheld, 
 among the motley crew of half - naked negroes
 
 232 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 awaiting them, a remarkable - looking man. Not- 
 withstanding his snow-white hair and beard, he had 
 a noticeable air of vigor, while seen nearer at hand, 
 his countenance proved impressive for its very un- 
 usual blending of shrewdness and benevolence. 
 
 Turning to take a second look at the stranger 
 before moving away, Zach heard the skipper address 
 him as Mr.'Arbuthnot. 
 
 At that day, as now, Bay Street, a long, winding 
 way, following the sinuosities of the shore, formed 
 the principal thoroughfare of the town. It was then 
 open on one side to the harbor, and here, in a decent 
 lodging-house over a shop facing the water, Zach 
 for a time found quarters. 
 
 Making no acquaintances and asking no questions, 
 he set about exploring the town for himself. It was 
 not a formidable undertaking, and in two or three 
 days he easily became familiar with its chief streets 
 and buildings. 
 
 Was this what he had come for? His curiosity 
 satisfied, was he now ready to go away ? Evidently 
 not, for he lingered, on, lingered, apparently, to 
 no purpose. Worse than that, he was getting demor- 
 alized. He dawdled about his lodging-house from 
 morning till night, in a limp state of irresolution. 
 He looked, moreover, like a man hopelessly at odds 
 with himself, and thus incapable of positive or con- 
 sistent action. 
 
 Happily, it is needless to conjecture the upshot of 
 this fit of moral prostration, for chance again stepped 
 in to his relief. Coming home one day from a long 
 jaunt through Grantstown, one of the negro quarters,
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 233 
 
 he was met by the announcement that a gentleman 
 had been to call upon him. 
 
 "See," continued his zealous landlady, fishing a 
 crumpled note from her pocket, "he wrote a word 
 for ye upon this bit of paper ! " 
 
 Unfolding the note, Zach began to read it with 
 an air of idle curiosity. Upon coming to the sig- 
 nature, the blood suddenly surged over his face, his 
 eyes kindled, and turning back to the beginning he 
 re-read it with a look of great agitation. 
 
 There seemed nothing in the note to justify such 
 unusual interest. It contained at the most a dozen 
 lines, and was to the following effect : 
 
 DEAR SIR, Hearing by accident that you are 
 lately arrived from New Orleans, I take the liberty 
 of calling upon you, as I am very desirous of learn- 
 ing something of the state of that town. You will 
 confer upon me a great favor by sending word when 
 I may have an interview with you, or by calling at 
 my house, corner of East Hill and Parliament streets, 
 any day from ten to twelve o'clock in the morning. 
 Trusting soon to hear from you, I am 
 Very respectfully 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 STEPHEN FALCONER. 
 
 A perfectly natural thing had happened: on an 
 island cut off from regular communication with the 
 rest of the world, the arrival of a stranger is an event 
 which makes a stir out of all proportion to its in- 
 trinsic importance. Thus, it coming to the ears of
 
 234 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 the planter, then very anxious about the welfare of 
 his possessions in that quarter, that a stranger had 
 arrived from New Orleans, he naturally lost no time 
 in hunting him up. 
 
 Not being island-born, Zach doubtless attached 
 undue importance to this summons, and it is to be 
 feared he went to wait upon his old employer in a 
 state of very unnecessary agitation. 
 
 The house, quite the finest private residence in 
 town, situated as described in Falconer's note, and 
 fronting the harbor, had a spacious garden sloping 
 down to Shirley Street, and extensive outlying 
 grounds towards the east, planted with oranges, 
 lemons, bananas, and cocoanuts. It was a large 
 and impressive structure, built of white coral lime- 
 stone, adorned in front with four majestic Doric col- 
 umns, and having wide verandas shut in by jalousies 
 on the eastern and southern sides. 
 
 Passing through the high stone gateway, Zach 
 walked up the gravel-path, and paused suddenly at 
 sight of a pony chaise drawn up before the front 
 entrance. Having assured himself by a second 
 glance that it was empty, he walked nervously up 
 the long flight of steps to the front veranda, where, 
 looking about for some means to announce himself, 
 he presently found a small silver bell on a shelf 
 beside the door, which he duly rang. After a dig- 
 nified delay, a slave slowly emerged from the story 
 beneath, stepped out upon the path, and looked up 
 for an observation. After taking a leisurely and 
 thorough survey of the visitor, he reentered the 
 house, and in due time appeared at the door.
 
 ZACHASY PHIPS. 235 
 
 Having stated his business, Zach was shown into 
 a large, cool room furnished as a library, and left to 
 compose himself for the coming interview. 
 
 Five minutes passed before Falconer appeared. 
 He had grown gray and moved with less vigor, but 
 otherwise was the same assured and collected-look- 
 ing person as before. 
 
 Gravely regarding Zach, who rose in a little flut- 
 ter to meet him, he stood awaiting an explanation of 
 the visit. 
 
 As much relieved as astonished to find himself 
 unrecognized, Zach hastened to explain. 
 
 "I got a note from you " 
 
 "Ah, yes, you are the gentl " with a second 
 look, " the young man from Florida. Pray be 
 seated. I am greatly obliged to you take this 
 chair where you can get the breeze, Mr." 
 
 The visitor took the seat, but not the hint. 
 
 "I beg pardon, but I haven't your name." 
 
 "Phips," said Zach, with an awakening suspicion 
 of his host's sincerity. 
 
 "Phips," repeated Falconer, in whom the name 
 seemed to stir no associations. "I was simply told 
 a stranger had arrived. It is very good of you to 
 call, Mr. Phips. You are just from the States, I 
 understand?" 
 
 "About a week ago." 
 
 "And is it true, then, that you have lately been 
 to New Orleans?" 
 
 "I left there on the third of the present month." 
 
 "So? indeed? Friday week? You will be in- 
 formed, then, of the exact state of affairs there?"
 
 286 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 The visitor nodded. 
 
 "You must know, Mr. Phips, to explain myself 
 a bit, I have, or I may better say had, considerable 
 possessions in New Orleans, and I am most curious 
 to learn my correspondent there being unhappily 
 abroad what state they are in since the war." 
 
 "Everything is in great disorder there," said 
 Zach, comprehensively. 
 
 " Oh, that of course. It could hardly be other- 
 wise. A city made the very seat of war, as you 
 may say. But it is the town itself is still intact, 
 I suppose? " 
 
 "Intact! " Zach repeated the word doubtfully. 
 
 ''That is to say, the public buildings are not torn 
 down, the houses are not burnt, the " 
 
 "No-o; the walls, the shell, as you may say, is 
 left." 
 
 "But much damaged? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "And changed?" 
 
 "Greatly." 
 
 "Oh, ay, of course; after a war, what could one 
 expect? My own property, however, is not exactly 
 in the town itself." 
 
 Zach regarded the speaker steadily, but made no 
 comment. 
 
 "It is, or was, some miles out in the country." 
 
 Falconer paused, as if for an assurance that this 
 might prove a saving clause. 
 
 Zach did not speak. 
 
 "In the direction of the lake," continued the 
 planter, with an inquiring inflection.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 237 
 
 "Pontcharfcrain?" 
 
 The planter nodded. 
 
 "The thick of the fighting was there." 
 
 "Eh? Do you tell me so?" with a look of con- 
 sternation. 
 
 "And Basswood," continued the visitor, vainly 
 trying to check the rising color in his cheeks. 
 
 " You know it, then?" 
 
 With another suspicious glance at the speaker, 
 Zach answered reservedly : 
 
 "I ben there." 
 
 "Have you have you so? how extraordinary! 
 you saw it, then. Ah, my good man, tell me, 
 pray, what state is it in? Tell me if " 
 
 The speaker was interrupted by a quick step in 
 the hall, and the next moment a young woman, 
 dressed in a white gown and wearing a wide hat 
 trimmed with pink roses, came tripping into the 
 room. With a passing glance at the stalwart young 
 man near the window, she advanced to the planter, 
 saying easily : 
 
 " Excuse me, papa, I did n't know you were 
 engaged. I only came in to say that we shall eat 
 at Clifton. 'T is a long drive, you know, and we 
 could n't well get back; so you will be deserted at 
 luncheon " * 
 
 "Very good; quite right, my dear. I shall try to 
 get on. Good-by," kissing her, "good-by, and 
 good luck to you! " 
 
 "Now, papa dear, you will not feel neglected? " 
 
 "Oh, never a bit." 
 
 "It could n't well be helped; I had nothing to do 
 with the arrangements, or "
 
 238 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 "There, there! have done! Good-by, and go along 
 with you ! " 
 
 "You are sure you will not be lonesome? " 
 
 "Quite the contrary. Go, I say, and good rid- 
 dance ! " accompanying her to the door and seeing 
 her fairly out. "Now, sir," resumed the impatient 
 man, turning again to his visitor, who sat with eyes 
 glowing like coals and bright spots burning in either 
 cheek, "pray go on! I am all impatience to hear 
 your story! " 
 
 "You were asking " said the young man with a 
 distraught look. 
 
 " About my plantation Basswood. You say you 
 know it?" 
 
 "Ye-es." 
 
 "Have you seen it since the war?" 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "But you can hardly have done that. I asked," 
 repeated the planter, noting his visitor's wandering 
 attention, "if you had seen it since the war." 
 
 "I have." 
 
 " Ah and has it suffered ? What state is it in ? " 
 
 "Ruined!" 
 
 "The scoundrels the ruffians! They shall pay 
 dear for their mischief! Who who did it, I 
 say? " 
 
 "The British army." 
 
 " Eh how why, ahem ! 't is incredible ! What 
 is done? How is it damaged?" 
 
 "The house is burned." 
 
 " Not er you don't mean entirely ? " 
 
 "The offices, the negro-quarters, destroyed."
 
 ZACIIARY PHIPS. 239 
 
 "Destroyed!" 
 
 "The trees cut down." 
 
 "What do you say?" 
 
 "The plantation ravaged." 
 
 "The Vandals!" 
 
 "The lawn dug up, the shore stripped of its 
 growth, the landing and boat-house torn to pieces, 
 and the whole place made a scene of desolation your 
 heart would ache to look at." 
 
 " What voice is that ? Who is talking ? " 
 
 The questions came from the veranda, whence an 
 excited face was thrust through the open window. 
 
 Zach started from his seat, and tremblingly awaited 
 the result of the searching look fixed upon him. 
 
 "You you were talking of Basswood" 
 
 " Poh, poh ! my dear, go take your drive ! We 
 are discussing a matter of business ; 't is not for you 
 to hear.'' 
 
 The intruder paid no heed; the face vanished 
 from the window and reappeared at the door. With 
 eyes fixed intently on the bearded stranger she stam- 
 mered : 
 
 "Excuse me, sir, 'tis very odd hearing your 
 voice, I thought for a moment " 
 
 "My dear," coldly interposed the planter, " you 
 are acting very strangely; this is Mr. Philips, a 
 gentleman from the States, whom you never saw, 
 and"- 
 
 "It is it is I thought so I knew it! Oh, 
 Zach, how you are changed! And that dreadful 
 beard! How came you here? Papa, why didn't 
 you tell me?"
 
 210 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 "Eh I upon my word, are you the lad 
 with the big sailor? I cannot believe it yet." 
 
 As for Zach, he stood all the time clutching the 
 back of his chair, showing pale even through his 
 sunburn, and quite unable to speak. 
 
 "Yes, yes," broke in Sylvia, eagerly. 
 
 "That went into the navy? " 
 
 "Why cannot you see he is?" 
 
 "Upon my word I cannot." 
 
 " I can I do. Sit down, Zach ! you look more 
 natural every minute. Dear me, how exciting ! Do 
 tell us where you have been ! what you have been 
 doing ! Did you ever know anything so odd as the 
 way we meet? Why didn't you speak to me at 
 once?" 
 
 "I I thought "- 
 
 While Zach was stammering over his answer to 
 this awkward question, a servant entered with a 
 note. 
 
 "Excuse me," she said, breaking the seal and has- 
 tily reading it. " Was there ever anything so pro- 
 voking? They are waiting for me. I am indeed 
 very late ; there is no help for it ; I must really go, 
 but," turning to her old playmate, "you will excuse 
 me ! I shall see you very soon again. Papa will 
 explain that this is an imperative engagement. He 
 will entertain you and keep you to dine with us, so I 
 will not say good -by, only good morning." 
 
 Making no answer, Zach stood staring at the door 
 with the look of one who has seen a vision and 
 awaits its reappearance. 
 
 Falconer, meantime, sensibly relieved by his
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 241 
 
 daughter's departure, drew up his chair and began 
 again upon the subject of Basswood. 
 
 Zach, in round-eyed preoccupation, was unrespon- 
 sive. It was only upon a third and emphatic repe- 
 tition of his remark that the planter drew an answer. 
 Thereupon he plied his absent-minded guest with 
 questions bearing upon every detail of his late visit 
 to the plantation, the while pacing the floor, revolv- 
 ing the probabilities of the United States reimburs- 
 ing a British alien absentee for damages done to his 
 estate by an invading British army. 
 
 When at last his visitor showed signs of fatigue, 
 Falconer offered him wine and cigars, loaded him 
 with thanks, and was otherwise appreciative, but 
 omitted to say anything about coming to dinner. 
 
 Zach noted the omission ; it might or might not 
 be significant. For him, at least, it was sufficiently 
 awkward. To go or not to go was a serious ques- 
 tion. Besides, there had been other things in Fal- 
 coner's atmosphere not quite transparent, and now 
 being recalled served to complicate the problem. 
 
 Returning to his lodgings, as the day wore on, 
 Zach suffered himself to become nervous over this 
 small point. For the matter of that, it was not a 
 small point. It was an important and momentous 
 point, and he was amply justified. 
 
 As night drew on, he was lifted gently and com- 
 fortably out of the dilemma: there came a visiting 
 card with these few lines written upon it : 
 
 "Fearful that papa did not tell you our dinner 
 hour, I write to say that it is six o'clock. Papa 
 sends his compliments."
 
 242 ZACHAET PH1PS. 
 
 One trouble gone, another came treading on its 
 heel. This invitation, this dinner, was it did it 
 mean society? 
 
 That word had been for years a mystery and a 
 bugbear, representing a remote and beatific state 
 never well defined in his mind, but potentially con- 
 nected with the hereafter. 
 
 For a time he yielded to panic. He underwent 
 a sensible torture. He recognized the occasion as 
 an ordeal differing only in kind from the severest he 
 had known. 
 
 Resolutely bent on undergoing it, he firmly made 
 a few preparations. He had his hair cut and his 
 beard shaved. He bought some gloves and fanciful 
 neck-gear. He repolished his boots three several 
 times. He well-nigh brushed the nap off his coat, 
 and at last, putting on his gloves, marched with 
 divaricated fingers and a rigid air of consciousness 
 towards the Falconer house. Almost arrived, he 
 heard a clock strike in a neighboring steeple; he 
 was an hour too early. Turning, he walked back 
 with precipitation, trembling lest he had been ob- 
 served from the house. Thereafter, to kill time, he 
 paced up and down Shirley Street, fancying that 
 everybody observed him, as indeed very many did. 
 
 At last, the hour came. In a trepidation even 
 worse than that of the day before, he walked slowly 
 up the steps and rang the bell. Then drawing a 
 long breath and summoning every resource of pride 
 and resolution, he followed the servant to the draw- 
 ing-room with the expression of a culprit going to 
 execution.
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 Sylvia and her father were bending over a book 
 on the table. Both rose, and she came forward with 
 extended hand. 
 
 When quite near her guest she paused ; the change 
 in his appearance evidently struck her anew and in 
 some peculiar way. Taking off his beard had, indeed, 
 greatly improved his looks, and withal, despite a 
 certain clumsiness of movement, despite his look of 
 constraint and the mistakes of his ill-assorted toilet, 
 there was an air of something very like distinction 
 in his face. 
 
 Influenced by this, or some inscrutable feminine 
 impression, she stopped short in the old familiar 
 greeting which rose to her lips, and stammered, 
 a deep flush the while overspreading her face, 
 
 "Mr. Phips!"
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 " MR. PHIPS!" This perhaps was required by 
 the etiquette of this fine world he was entering. 
 But the blush, that at least was involuntary, and 
 therefore significant. Of what ? Here was a prob- 
 lem born of the new and unknown conditions of the 
 new and unknown sphere he had invaded, a prob- 
 lem not the last or least of the many he was there to 
 encounter. 
 
 But there is no time now for problems. Other 
 guests arrive : Miss Campbell and Mr. Ambrister 
 from the Government House, the daughter and 
 nephew of his Excellency the Governor of the 
 Bahamas. Major Pengrip of the West Indian 
 Rifles, with his pretty niece. Mr. Wyly, one of 
 the foremost of the "Conchs," as the islanders are 
 irreverently called by Gentiles, and his stout 
 wife. 
 
 The appearance of these respectable persons, all 
 in more or less fine attire, assured of manner and 
 intimate with each other, struck Zach with dismay. 
 He stood rigid and silent. Not knowing what to 
 do, he did nothing. His powers of speech failed 
 with his presence of mind. He replied huskily and 
 inconsequently to one or two random remarks ad- 
 dressed to him by the guests, as they were presented. 
 Thus he stood with a dew of agitation on his fore-
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 245 
 
 head, shifting his weight from one leg to another, 
 and alternately hiding behind him and bringing to 
 the fore his gloved hands, when Falconer, coming 
 up, confidentially whispered that he was to take out 
 Mrs. Mason. 
 
 " Take her out ! " Extraordinary request ! What 
 breach of decorum had the poor duenna been com- 
 mitting! Casting a nervous glance at the uncon- 
 scious dowager, he wondered whether she would go 
 peaceably, or it would be necessary to resort to 
 force. 
 
 While he was hesitating, a servant appeared in 
 the doorway, mumbled something, and vanished, 
 whereupon, directly, the whole company began to 
 pair off. While staring at this new movement, the 
 unhappy youth was mercifully taken in tow by 
 Mrs. Mason, who, all unconscious of her disgrace, 
 passed her hand through his arm and fell into the 
 procession. 
 
 Arrived at the dining-room, he noted for the first 
 time that his dress was widely at variance with that 
 of the other men. If his cup of misery failed yet of 
 full measure, here was the brimming drop. 
 
 Already dazed by the splendor of the table and 
 the elaboration of the service, he furthermore found 
 the feast bristling with new and distracting points 
 of etiquette. For the food, he bolted everything 
 offered him, and the servant had much ado to keep 
 his glasses filled. For the talk, it was an incom- 
 prehensible babble about persons, things, and sub- 
 ject-matters of which he was profoundly ignorant. 
 Amidst the hurly-burly he heard and remembered a
 
 246 Z AGHAST PHIPS. 
 
 chance remark let fall by Sylvia. She was admir- 
 ing a jewel worn by Miss Campbell. 
 
 "You found it here? To be sure, this is the 
 land of the pink pearl ! I am dying with envy of 
 you. I dote on them, but papa never gives me 
 jewels." 
 
 Vaguely conscious, meantime, that Mrs. Mason 
 had addressed to him several well-meant conversa- 
 tional overtures which he had answered wide of the 
 mark, by incredible effort he collected his faculties 
 and made a bold effort to set on foot a conversa- 
 tion. 
 
 "You have changed greatly since we parted at 
 Basswood, ma'am." 
 
 Strange to say, the good woman did not reply to 
 this propitiatory remark, but glared at the speaker 
 through her eyeglass in a way that added greatly to 
 his discomfiture. 
 
 At this juncture Sylvia rose and made a movement 
 to leave the room. Everybody seemed to follow 
 suit. With an undissembled sigh of relief, Zach 
 bounced up, and stumbled over two or three silken 
 trains in his anxiety to keep side by side with Mrs. 
 Mason. Only upon arriving at the door he discov- 
 ered that the other men had remained standing about 
 the table. Covered with confusion, he returned to 
 the fold. 
 
 Withal, it is to be feared, his wits here reached 
 the whirring point, for when Falconer presently 
 called upon him for a description of the devastation 
 done at New Orleans, he made such a botched, 
 jumbled, and incoherent repetition of the succinct
 
 ZACHAET PHIPS. 247 
 
 account he had before given, that the planter re- 
 garded him with amazement. Raising his eyes in 
 time to catch this critical glance of his host, Zach, 
 to whom constraint had by this reached the pitch 
 of torture, started up, and striding out of the room, 
 left the house without a word of apology or leave- 
 taking. 
 
 The dinner proved an experience which was des- 
 tined to have far-reaching results. Escaped from 
 the house, the exasperated guest walked at a furious 
 pace back to his lodgings, where he arrived covered 
 with dust and perspiration, but with a face composed 
 and resolute. He had chosen his part. Betimes 
 next morning he set about playing it. 
 
 The first thing was to write a letter to Sylvia. 
 Any letter was a task ; this one taxed to the utmost 
 his intellectual resources. All day long he was in 
 the travail of composition, and the next day was 
 passed in correcting and transcribing what he had 
 written. A letter of such moment must not be 
 omitted from this record. 
 
 MY DEAR Miss FALCONER, The first thing for 
 me to do is to make you an apology. Of course, 
 you and your father thought it strange for me to run 
 out of the house in that way. I guess there ain't 
 any kind of an apology that will cover it. I can't 
 explain what made me do it. You would n't under- 
 stand it, unless you was brought up the way I was. 
 All I can say is, I had to do it and I am sorry for it. 
 
 The truth is, I hadn't any business to be there; 
 it was n't any place for me. I don't belong to that
 
 248 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 kind of life, to that kind of folks, and to that kind 
 of doings, and J never shall. 
 
 I did think, that as we had grown up together, 
 and had understood each other long ago, we always 
 should. I was a fool, and it is n't the first time, 
 either. It never occurred to me that you was all 
 the time growing up in a different world from what 
 I was. I have found it out now. It would have 
 been better if I had found it out before. You 
 called me Mr. Phips ; perhaps you had to ; perhaps 
 you meant it. It don't make any difference, now. 
 I 'm sorry I mortified you that way before your 
 company. I shall never do it again. Good-by. 
 Your friend, ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 Having dispatched this letter, the writer, in 
 further pursuance of his purpose, posted down to 
 the landing to learn what prospect there was of soon 
 getting away from the island. He was told that the 
 Chance was very nearly loaded, and was directed to 
 her owner for further particulars. 
 
 Proceeding to a small office at the head of the 
 wharf, he found the venerable Scotchman deep in 
 conference with a young man, who sat with his back 
 to the door. 
 
 "Is this Mr. Arbuthnot? " 
 "Ay, at your service." 
 "When is your boat going to sail? " 
 "To-morrow, at the crack o' dawn, we 're awa." 
 "Got room for any more passengers? " 
 "That we hae, an' to spare, sin ther 's ony twa 
 bookit."
 
 ZACIIARY PIIIPS. 249 
 
 "Well, I 'm thinkin' of goin' with you." 
 
 "Awell, gin I say it my ain sel, ye mouglit gae 
 further an' fare waur." 
 
 At this point, the young man turning about, Zach 
 recognized in him one of the guests at the dinner- 
 party, and was about to retreat with precipitation, 
 when he was hailed by the stranger. 
 
 "Ah, Mr. Phips, Mr. Phips; you don't remem- 
 ber me, I see. Mr. Ambrister! " 
 
 Zach bowed and turned crimson. 
 
 "You came out all right, then. Gad! We were 
 for sending a doctor after you, the other night. I 
 was asking about you this afternoon. The Fal- 
 coners were up at Government House. Miss 
 Sylvia is a bit anxious, I think. 'T was nothing 
 serious, I hope. You find yourself quite well again, 
 then?" 
 
 "I er quite. I 'm obliged to you." 
 
 "And so you are going to the States with Fal- 
 coner?" 
 
 "With Falconer?" 
 
 "Eh? Did n't you know? He goes to-morrow. 
 'T is he and his man are the two other passengers." 
 
 " Oh-h er I had n't heard I 'm not quite 
 sure of going myself." 
 
 "Ah, then, since you 're not of his party, you 'd 
 far better wait for the next trip, and go with Arbuth- 
 not and me." 
 
 Whether conciliated by this cordial young man, 
 or influenced by some other consideration, Zach 
 caught at the straw. 
 
 "How long before the next trip? "
 
 250 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 
 
 "A week, more or less," with a look at Arbuth- 
 not. 
 
 The Scotchman nodded. 
 
 "What do you say, Mr. Phips?" 
 
 "I will think over it. I will let you know in the 
 morning," answered Zach evasively, making his 
 escape. 
 
 Next morning, early, Zach went down to make 
 known his decision. He was told that Arbuthnot 
 was on the dock. Going thither, he found a crowd 
 collected to see the schooner sail. He hailed the 
 Scotchman and told him he had decided to wait 
 until the next trip. That busy person scarcely 
 heeded him. Turning to come away, he cast a 
 glance towards the crowded deck of the vessel. He 
 saw there the planter engaged in close conversation 
 with a stout, red-faced man, who was further distin- 
 guished with regard to his personal appearance by a 
 bluish wen on his nose, by a loud voice, and an 
 over-ingratiating manner. 
 
 A minute's observation of Falconer's air of au- 
 thority, and the other's fawning manner, disclosed 
 the relations between the two. In the midst of his 
 final directions the planter was interrupted by the 
 signal to sail, and as the stout man stepped ashore 
 Zach heard his employer address him as Woodbine. 
 
 Vague associations connected with that name, 
 associations too vague to be recalled, haunted 
 Zach all the way back to his lodgings. 
 
 There a new direction was given to his thoughts 
 by finding an answer to his letter. It was short 
 and simple, but very disturbing.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 251 
 
 MY DEAR MR. PHIPS, I fear from your note 
 that you are making far too much of a very small 
 matter. We of course understood that you were 
 ill, or otherwise indisposed, and attached no impor- 
 tance to your abrupt departure from our house. 
 There are so many exigencies in life before which 
 etiquette must give way, that the matter is scarcely 
 worth alluding to. 
 
 I am, however, truly grieved that you were so 
 unhappy at our little party, and to see that you are 
 inclined to draw hasty and rash conclusions from 
 your discomfort. I trust you will not let so slight a 
 cause influence seriously laid plans of life or impair 
 your esteem for certain old and faithful friends, 
 among whom I hope you count 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 SYLVIA FALCONER. 
 
 The quietness of tone and the excellent common- 
 sense of this note were impressive. Zach remem- 
 bered with mortification the heroics of his own, in 
 comparison. He was a good deal surprised to find 
 his old playmate displaying such maturity of intelli- 
 gence. There was something else in the note not 
 expressed in words, but as it seemed, lurking be- 
 tween the lines, something which delighted while 
 it disturbed him. He was not clear how much sig- 
 nifiance he was justified in attaching to it. 
 
 Much or little, it afforded abundant food for re- 
 flection, and so, wherever he went in the few days 
 of idleness which intervened before his departure, 
 he was busy with the problem.
 
 252 ZACHABT pmps. 
 
 One excursion was to the famous sea-gardens, the 
 special show-place of the islands. Sailing a couple 
 of miles up the harbor, they anchored in a little 
 channel between two islands, and taking to row- 
 boats, paddled about, looking through sea-glasses at 
 the wonders outspread beneath them: corals, sea- 
 fans, sponges, curious fishes, brilliant with every 
 color of the rainbow, and all sharply defined and set 
 off by the clear white sand of the bottom. 
 
 Absorbed in the study of these marvels, Zach had 
 not noted the arrival of another party until he was 
 aroused by a well-known voice, close at hand, cry- 
 ing out in tones of enthusiastic delight. 
 
 Looking up, he recognized a party from Govern- 
 ment House, dispersed in several row-boats about 
 him. In one, Miss Campbell and the private sec- 
 retary; in another, nearer at hand, Sylvia and 
 Ambrister. 
 
 The polite young Englishman was leaning over 
 the rail helping his companion adjust the clumsy 
 glass. Thus engaged, with heads together, ab- 
 sorbed in the unusual spectacle, they made a strik- 
 ing picture, a picture, however, which proved not 
 altogether pleasing to one beholder, who savagely 
 bade his boatman row as fast as possible from the 
 spot. 
 
 Crouched in the bow of his sail-boat, the same 
 personage sulked all the way home, chewing his cud 
 of bitter-sweet, all unconscious of some very splen- 
 did sunset effects in sky and water. 
 
 Passing Fort Montague, cold and gray, on the 
 left, and skirting the wreck-strewn shore of Hog
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 253 
 
 Island on the right, they tacked in and out among 
 the little keys, on one of which the ruins of the 
 pirate fort, once the stronghold of the notorious 
 Black Beard, was outlined with the incisive sharp- 
 ness of an etching against the golden light-flood 
 beyond. 
 
 Arrived at the landing, Zach roamed along the 
 docks until he came to a retired spot, where, sitting 
 down upon the sea-wall, he lighted his pipe and gave 
 way to his thoughts. 
 
 Aroused presently by a mumbling at his side, he 
 looked around and saw an old negro boatman, who 
 was unfolding something from a dirty rag which he 
 had pulled from his pocket. 
 
 "Go away! " said Zach. 
 
 "Mass'r, look a-dar! " 
 
 "Get along with you, I say! " 
 
 "Dat ar 's a shiner, dat is! Mass'r nebber see 
 a pink pearl like dat,, he did n't ! " 
 
 "What do you say?" 
 
 "Look fo' yo'sef! Fo' Gawd, yo nebber see 
 nuffin like dat!" 
 
 Extending his hand as he spoke, he displayed a 
 large jewel of a delicate rose color. 
 
 "Pink pearl! How do you know it is?" 
 
 "Know it, sho'; cotch conchs all my life, but 
 nebber see no sech one afore." 
 
 "Humph!" looking at the gem indifferently, 
 "take it away!" 
 
 "Better buy it, Mass'r; git it mos' fo' nuffin." 
 
 A thought shot through Zach's brain. Directly, 
 he straightened up and began to chaffer. The price
 
 254 ZACHABY PHIP8. 
 
 demanded, although paltry compared with the value 
 of the gem, was yet beyond his means. 
 
 The negro, noting the purchaser's sudden inter- 
 est, held stiffly to his price. 
 
 Presently, getting impatient, Zach drew from his 
 pocket his whole store of money, and extending it 
 to the man, bawled out : 
 
 "That 's all the money I got, you black devil. 
 Now take it, or leave it! " 
 
 The negro hesitated; the improbability of rind- 
 ing another purchaser weighed heavily in the bal- 
 ance. The bargain was struck. Handing over 
 the pearl, the seller picked up the money and dis- 
 appeared. 
 
 Next day, Zach got up with a preoccupied look. 
 It was not without a serious intent, moreover, that 
 he spent several hours in the uncongenial task of 
 making a toilet. As soon as he was ready to sally 
 forth, however, his energy and purpose appeared to 
 fail. He dragged along the sultry streets, as it 
 seemed without end or aim. In this irresolute mood, 
 coming to the corner of Bay and Parliament streets, 
 he checked his pace and purposely loitered. Pass- 
 ing between the Government buildings, he paused 
 to study the contorted roots of the great silk-cotton 
 tree, which have a grotesque resemblance to two ele- 
 phants in deadly struggle. Lingering a moment at 
 the well, where sat a couple of ragged young ne- 
 groes, chewing sugar-cane, he presently sauntered 
 along the avenue of young Spanish laurels leading 
 to the little octagonal jail, since transformed into a 
 library. There he paused for several minutes, peer-
 
 ZACHAEY PIIIPS. 255 
 
 ing curiously through the grated door at the sleepy 
 black sentinel on guard. Here, aroused by the sud- 
 den clatter of horses' hoofs, he looked around, and 
 saw a horseman coming down Parliament Street. 
 With intent looks he watched him turn the corner 
 of Shirley Street, and go cantering away towards the 
 barracks. It was Ambrister. 
 
 Straightway, the irresolution faded from the be- 
 holder's face. He walked briskly up the hill, 
 passed through the well-known gate, mounted the 
 steps, and rang the bell. 
 
 Sylvia was at home. One might almost have 
 thought she expected her visitor, for upon his ap- 
 pearance an evanescent little flush burned in her 
 cheeks, and for a whole minute she stammered over 
 her greeting. She struggled, moreover, with a very 
 evident constraint in putting the interview on an 
 easy footing. If the truth must be told, she did not 
 succeed after all. It more and more plainly ap- 
 peared that the interview was not to be put on an 
 easy footing, chiefly on account of the demeanor of 
 her guest, who, it must be confessed, behaved in a 
 very disconcerting manner. Staring straight into 
 her eyes with a sombre intensity, he neither spoke 
 nor made any offer to speak. Worse again, he did 
 not answer to leads in the conversation. 
 
 He sat and gazed, as though intent upon reading 
 her unexpressed thought, too absorbed in the busi- 
 ness the while to suffer a moment's distraction. 
 
 Unable to sustain this ordeal, she resorted to va- 
 rious feminine devices to create a diversion. She 
 rose and fluttered about the room, made inconse-
 
 256 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 quent remarks upon the weather and the view, 
 brought books and pictures to be examined. Upon 
 divers of these points, thus violently introduced, she 
 affected to take the advice of Mrs. Mason, sitting 
 in an adjoining room. 
 
 The visitor awaited his turn, waited gravely and 
 patiently, until, tired of hovering about, she settled 
 down again in her chair. 
 
 Still he did not speak, whereupon she, as if feel- 
 ing the paralysis of constraint weighing down also 
 upon her, burst forth with a noisy affectation of her 
 old waywardness. Unwarned by the hysterical note 
 in this forced effort, and unsuspecting its purpose, 
 the visitor received it with a stare of surprise. 
 Whereupon, to his amazement, she burst into a fit 
 of weeping. 
 
 Rising instantly with a look of concern, he hur- 
 ried to her. She, quickly rallying to the defense 
 of her compromised dignity, repulsed him with a 
 gesture of resentment, and hurried from the room. 
 
 Greatly astonished by this move, Zach stood gaz- 
 ing after the retreating girl. Passing in severe 
 review his own words and acts, so few, so re- 
 strained, so non-committal, it was clear that he at 
 least was in no wise accountable for it. Doubtless 
 it was only one of those periodic and inexplicable 
 outbursts peculiar to the sex, with which he was 
 not familiar. 
 
 Hardly had he arrived at this conclusion, when 
 Sylvia returned, furtively wiping her eyes, and in a 
 measure composed. 
 
 "Excuse me," she said; "perhaps you didn't 
 mean anything by it after all."
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 257 
 
 "By it? I!" 
 
 "1 dare say, too, that I am a little unsettled by 
 papa's going. 'T is the first time, you must know, 
 that he ever left me, the very first ; and it was a 
 great mistake for me to stay behind. I see it now. 
 I feel it every minute. A very great and sad mis- 
 take ! Yet, after all, perhaps 't is better, it must 
 be a great deal better for me to outgrow my baby- 
 hood. 'T is absurd to act and feel like a baby 
 when you are really a woman, a woman grown. 
 Dear me ! How frightful to think of it. It means 
 such crushing responsibilities. Oh-h-h, I wish I 
 had always remained a child! I wish I could go 
 back again, not too far, but just a very little way to 
 the dear old days, to the careless, happy days, 
 to the glad, joyous days, when For mercy and 
 pity's sake, sit down in your chair, and don't stand 
 staring there at me another minute, or I will go 
 straight and bring in Mason! " 
 
 Astonished by this outburst of volubilitj^, and 
 recalled to himself by the sharp personal criticism 
 with which it concluded, Zach meekly resumed his 
 seat without a word. Meanwhile Sylvia had time 
 to recover her breath, and in some degree her self- 
 control. 
 
 "And you," she resumed in a much quieter tone, 
 "I hope you are quite well, again? " 
 
 Reminded by this question of his last social expe- 
 rience in the house, he answered bluntly, 
 
 "I have n't been sick." 
 
 "But they said, I was told " 
 
 " Other folks can think what they like, but you 
 need n't believe any such story."
 
 258 ZACHARY PHIP8. 
 
 " I beg your pardon, let us not talk of it ! 'T is 
 of no consequence." 
 
 ".It is of consequence. I told you what was the 
 matter with me. I was like a fish out of water. I 
 was not in my own element. I could not breathe in 
 that air, and so I ran away." 
 
 "I should have done just the same myself." 
 
 "No, you would n't." 
 
 "Excuse me!" 
 
 "You have learned how to act in company, and 
 you would have acted right, and there is just where 
 the difference is between us, and where it always 
 will be!" 
 
 "So I dare say it will, if you have made up your 
 mind to it and persist in repeating it as a rule of 
 conduct." 
 
 Zach listened open-eyed to this criticism ; its pith 
 and keenness so recalled the cool maturity of the 
 letter. Following hard upon the late burst of child- 
 ishness, it proved bewildering. Revolving all this, 
 he yet obstinately repeated, 
 
 "It 's there, I tell you; it 's none of my puttin' 
 or fixin', and there 's no use my try in' to do away 
 with it." 
 
 However dogmatically this was said, he waited 
 in evident concern for her answer. She hesitated, 
 conscious that he was studying her averted face, and 
 as if to give point to her words. 
 
 "That 's a question for you to decide." 
 
 "It is, and I have decided it," he answered 
 promptly. Then, disappointed at receiving no re- 
 joinder, he went on in a deprecating way. "That
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 259 
 
 bein' the case, you wonder what I 'm doin' here. 
 Well, I don't know myself. I said I should n't 
 come again, but " 
 
 She averted still further her averted eyes. 
 
 "But you made me out such a fool in your let- 
 ter" 
 
 Straightening up suddenly, with a touch of her 
 old childish imperativeness, she cried, 
 
 "Stop!" 
 
 The visitor's face brightened. Here was a re- 
 turn of the old enchantment. Willingly enough he 
 yielded to the spell. 
 
 "You may say as many silly things about yourself 
 as you choose, but I shall not allow you to pervert 
 what I say." 
 
 "Did you not" 
 
 She put up a small, silencing hand. 
 
 "/am talking now. You have had your turn." 
 
 His evident delight in being thus bullied would 
 have made capital by -play on the stage. 
 
 "What I said in that letter," she went on with 
 her pinchbeck dogmatism, "or rather what I meant 
 to say, was that you have conjured up out of your 
 own disordered imagination a very dreadful bugbear, 
 which you will go on scaring yourself with to the end 
 of time, until somebody steps forward to show 't is 
 nothing but a 'thing of shreds and patches.' ' 
 
 He cast an uneasy glance at her, as if half sus- 
 pecting what she said might be true. 
 
 "But you will never see this, you will never ac- 
 knowledge the truth of what I say, until your eyes 
 are opened."
 
 2GO ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 "What will ever open them? " he asked, half sul- 
 lenly. 
 
 "Your own success." 
 
 The terseness of this answer struck him like the 
 breath from an oracle. Half in awe, half in admi- 
 ration, he recognized the acumen so suddenly de- 
 veloped in the alert little creature who used years 
 ago to look up to him as a mentor. Now, whether 
 really in doubt or whether with the purpose of keep- 
 ing her talking, he said, 
 
 "I don't know what you mean." 
 
 "I mean, learn to do something in life no 
 matter what better than anybody else, and your 
 fortune is made. Down will go all barriers and 
 open will fly all doors at your approach." 
 
 A little stirring of the blood, it might have been 
 from shame, showed in the listener's face, and he 
 gazed spell-bound at this young sibyl. She, finding 
 the pause which ensued awkward, suddenly changed 
 the subject by asking, 
 
 "Do you purpose staying long in Nassau?" 
 
 " I am going right away," rising with sudden 
 energy, as if recalled to himself by her question. 
 
 "Directly?" 
 
 "Yes, to-morrow morning. I am come now to 
 say good- by." 
 
 "Why I you is it not very sudden?" she 
 stammered, not without a little flush. 
 
 " I have brought you a keepsake," he continued, 
 noting her manner, while clumsily drawing a small 
 box from his pocket. 
 
 "Oh!" taking it with a pleased look. "Thank 
 you very much ! "
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. . 261 
 
 She lifted the lid, and directly a look of constraint 
 appeared in her face. Reflecting for a moment, she 
 handed back the box, saying, 
 
 "No, no; I cannot take it! " 
 
 The giver looked at her as if not understanding. 
 
 "This is a thing of great value. I have never 
 received such a gift from er I thought it 
 might be a flower, or shell, or something which I 
 might But I er I cannot take this." 
 
 With eyes bent in stern suspicious scrutiny upon 
 the agitated face before him, Zach stood for a 
 moment holding the box in his extended palm as if 
 to afford her a chance to repent. Then emptying 
 the jewel into his hollowed hand, he threw it out of 
 the window, and stalked without a word from the 
 room. 
 
 Down to the water side and on past the barracks, 
 the water battery, and the Tea-House, counting not 
 his steps, and mindless of his course, he followed 
 the westward road until he had left the town far 
 behind. 
 
 One hour, two, three, followed in unnoted succes- 
 sion, and still he kept on the hard white road which, 
 shut in on either hand by the dark masses of the 
 wild-grape tree, showed like a broad gray ribbon 
 strung carelessly through the seaside copses. 
 
 Meantime night had fallen, a lowering night, 
 while a northwest wind drove the breakers on the 
 rocks with a continuous roar. His first vigor abated, 
 the agitated young man proceeded at a more mod- 
 erate pace. Arrived at a point far from any human 
 habitation, his attention was presently attracted by
 
 2G2 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 a light on the shore, a long distance ahead of him. 
 It appeared and disappeared at intervals, as he ap- 
 proached, until when he arrived within convenient 
 distance for investigation, it suddenly crossed the 
 road and sank from sight amongst the shrubbery on 
 the left. 
 
 Approaching the spot, he looked with passing curi- 
 osity at the place. The mystery of it proved a dis- 
 traction. Everything was dark and still. He tried 
 to persuade himself that it was a hallucination, 
 when, close at hand, there was heard a confused 
 and indistinct sound, a sound like the murmur 
 of human voices. Presently it came nearer. Di- 
 rectly, a faint light appeared among the bushes, 
 flickered, grew stronger, then vanished. At the 
 same moment two or three dark figures emerged 
 from the dense blackness of the thicket, and cross- 
 ing the road only a few paces from where he stood, 
 disappeared in the direction of the beach. 
 
 Thoroughly aroused and interested, Zach softly 
 approached the spot in the bushes whence they had 
 emerged. He found, to his surprise, a hole in the 
 ground large enough to admit a man's body, from 
 which a faint light issued. Crouching, he crept in, 
 and found himself at the entrance to a large cave. 
 He stopped in time. The cave was already occu- 
 pied. 
 
 A fire at the lower end disclosed its extent and its 
 occupants. Ranged about the glowing coals were 
 a half dozen men, squatting or lying on the ground, 
 all save one, who seemed to be haranguing his fel- 
 lows.
 
 ^ZACHABY PHIPS. 2G3 
 
 Sure that he had heard the voice before, Zach 
 strove through the gloom to make out the speaker's 
 features, but without success. Failing to see, he 
 listened the more intently. 
 
 "Poh, poh! 'T is but a few weeks' delay. The 
 goods are not perishable. The market is sure. A 
 carpenter's adze will blot out all marks and shipping 
 labels. Store 'em for a month, and then run 'em 
 into Santiago. Sure profit. No risk. A pretty 
 penny to divide, eh? " 
 
 As he finished, the speaker leaned forward to 
 kindle his pipe. The light fell full upon his face. 
 The eavesdropper suppressed an exclamation; he 
 recognized without difficulty the man with the wen 
 whom he had seen talking to Falconer. 
 
 "How many more loads? " 
 
 "Not more than five." 
 
 "Twice that?" 
 
 "Ask Joe. He '11 be back in a minute." 
 
 Taking the warning, Zach softly retreated', and 
 in good time. Scarcely had he gained the road 
 when four stout men appeared, bearing upon a litter 
 a heavy load of merchandise, which they deposited 
 in the cave. 
 
 It was late when Zach arrived home, far too 
 late to take any action on his discovery ; but next 
 morning he lost no time in laying the matter before 
 Arbuthnot, as the wisest head among his narrow 
 circle of acquaintance. 
 
 The worthy Scotchman heard the story with a face 
 quite impassive.
 
 264 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 "They 're pirates, that gang, and their leader is 
 one of your own citizens," said Zach hotly. "They 
 have made a cave there big enough to hold a whole 
 ship's goods." 
 
 "Na," answered Arbuthnot, with a sly twinkle in 
 his eye. " They did na mak the caves ; ilka body 
 kens thae caves, an thae gentlemen are no exactly 
 pirates, neyther, but a soort o' gentlemen free-tra- 
 ders, ye ken. A wrecker is na a pirate, lad; he 's a 
 lang way removed, gin he be na oot-an-oot an honest 
 mon!" 
 
 "He 's a pirate, I say," repeated Zach stoutly. 
 
 " 'T is na weel to spier intil ither folkses business 
 in thae pairts, tak my ward for that; sae keep yer 
 finger oot o' the pie ! " 
 
 " That will I not, and if I were not going so soon, 
 I would put it in with some effect. Tell me, now, 
 who is the official to go to with this story? " 
 
 " Ane wad think ther 'd be nane betther than Mr. 
 Attorney General yon, wha has little to do but pit 
 up his lazy feet on the table and read books frae 
 mornin' till night." 
 
 "The attorney general?" 
 
 "Ay, the Honorable Mr. Kerr, gin ye maun hae 
 yer way " 
 
 But Zach was already off on his errand. Enter- 
 ing the office designated, he asked for the attorney 
 general. 
 
 A clerk on a stool silently pointed to a door lead- 
 ing to an adjoining room. 
 
 Zach went in, and found a tall man dressed in 
 black stooping over a table. The man lifted his
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 265 
 
 head, and showed a pale face knitted up into an ha- 
 bitual scowl. 
 
 The effect was notable. Although he neither 
 started nor spoke, Zach showed in his face a pro- 
 found astonishment. 
 
 "You?" 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "Mr. Blennerhassett!" 
 
 "Sh-h!" hissed the startled official, jumping 
 from his seat and hastily shutting the door. "Do 
 not speak that name here! " 
 
 "Eh!" 
 
 "My name is Kerr Kerr, sir ! " 
 
 "But when I knew you when you were with 
 Burr, you used to be called " 
 
 "Nothing of the sort, sir! I never saw you 
 I never heard of you before," interrupted Mr. 
 Kerr angrily. "You are mistaken mistaken, 
 I say," he repeated, still more excitedly. "And 
 who are you, and what may be your business with 
 me?" 
 
 Rather bewildered by the encounter, Zach related 
 what he had to tell, the attorney general listening 
 with extreme impatience. 
 
 "Poh! a few wreckers hiding goods in a cave! 
 'T is an every -day matter. The goods are lost to 
 their owner, and are treasure trove to the first 
 comer. These gentlemen have their rights as find- 
 ers. If that be your whole business with me " 
 
 "It is all," murmured the complainant, his moral 
 sense now becoming as muddled as his intellectual. 
 
 "You '11 excuse me, then, for wishing you good-
 
 266 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 day," said the testy official, rising and bowing in a 
 manner too significant to be mistaken. 
 
 Next morning the Chance duly sailed. Zach, 
 having spent all his money on the unlucky pink 
 pearl, was obliged to sell his watch to pay for his 
 passage.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 ARTICLE IX. of the Treaty of Ghent provides, 
 among other things, that the United States of 
 America shall forthwith restore to the Indians "all 
 the possessions, rights, and privileges which they 
 may have enjoyed or been entitled to in one thou- 
 sand eight hundred and eleven." 
 
 It boots not here to tell again the story of how 
 the said United States of America got possession of 
 the rich hunting-grounds of the Creeks and Semi- 
 noles, and how, once obtained, they held on to their 
 prize. It is a threadbare old story, which does not 
 improve with age. Enough for the present purpose 
 to say that with the publication of the treaty, a long- 
 smouldering hope flamed up anew in the red man's 
 bosom. The Great Father at Washington had then 
 answered his prayer, his lands were to be given 
 back, his wrongs righted. Fiat justitia, ruat ccelum. 
 
 The ingenuous red man was premature with his 
 jubilations. He grew wiser on a closer acquaint- 
 ance with civilization. Months passed, years passed, 
 the sky held its place while justice lay skulking. 
 What then ? Treaties have been disregarded before. 
 If the United States of America choose to ignore 
 Article IX., who is to hinder? Not the British. 
 They have enough to do to look after Buonaparte, 
 without enforcing treaties for their far-off, helpless,
 
 268 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 and savage allies. Not the Spaniards, who have 
 scant vigor to keep up their child's play at govern- 
 ment in the Florida peninsula. Not any moral 
 scruples of its the United States of America's 
 own, for a government is a corporation, and a corpo- 
 ration has no conscience. So the red man's claims 
 go unheeded while this deed which he, in his igno- 
 rance, calls a robbery, becomes sanctioned by pre- 
 scription, and the robber goes on his prospering way 
 unscathed. 
 
 Meantime, the red men are not content. They 
 are unwise enough to show their resentment, and in 
 a rude, futile way, to seek redress. The United 
 States of America, thereupon, very promptly and 
 forcibly retaliate, with what result will presently 
 appear. 
 
 Into the very midst of this international muddle, 
 by no intent or fault of his own, Zach now came 
 blundering, like Goodman Blind. That is to say, 
 embarked with Arbuthnot, Ambrister, young Jock 
 Arbuthnot, and clerk Peter Cook, on board the 
 Chance, which was otherwise laden with a well- 
 selected cargo of powder, lead, knives, blankets, 
 vermilion, beads, calico, clothing, and other things 
 dear to the savage heart, he duly came to anchor in 
 the harbor of Pensacola, after a prosperous voyage 
 of two and a half days. 
 
 Having no plans of his own, he readily caught at 
 a suggestion from Arbuthnot to cast in his lot with 
 the others at the trading-station. 
 
 Although not in line with certain lofty ambitions 
 he had long nourished, this venture promised to re-
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 269 
 
 suit in something better than a makeshift. Indeed, 
 upon his very first marshaling of the possibilities, 
 a startling notion flashed upon him: might it not 
 bring into his life a new element of success? a 
 meaner, more ignoble, but essential element? Ar- 
 buthnot was said to have made a fortune out of it. 
 
 A fortune ! For the first time in his life he se- 
 riously considered the subject concretely. By a 
 strictly original chain of reasoning he was now led 
 to recognize money as a source of power. Upon 
 riper meditation he was amazed to find how often 
 and how largely this new element entered into com- 
 bination with other forms of success, and with what 
 amazing splendor of effect. 
 
 Money! The Falconers had it. Their friends 
 had it. Nearly all the notable persons he had 
 known in life had seemed to have plenty of it. Even 
 in the case of Burr, was it not the lack of it which 
 surrounded that hapless man with an atmosphere so 
 sordid and pathetic? Was not the lack of it the 
 sole cause for the present misery, distress, and sep- 
 aration of the Blennerhassetts? Might it not be the 
 lack of it which kept one Zachary Phips from realiz- 
 ing certain dear desires ? His early days in Florida 
 were filled with these reflections, which are here for- 
 mulated from a study of effects. 
 
 Arrived in port, Arbuthnot made his arrange- 
 ments with a skill acquired by long experience. 
 Peter Cook was to be sent northward to announce 
 to the Georgia Indians the return of their old 
 friend with a fresh cargo. Jock, with a negro slave 
 for attendant, was to be dispatched up the Suwanee
 
 270 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 in a canoe to the trading-station, to open and make 
 ready the storehouse for the coining goods, notifying 
 Chief Bolecks and his tribe of their arrival. The 
 trader himself was to linger at Pensacola for some 
 days to dispose of certain of his wares to the town- 
 folk and report upon divers commissions he had ex- 
 ecuted for his old friend the Spanish commandant. 
 Zach was to be left in command of the vessel, Am- 
 brister having expressed an intention of going ashore 
 with the trader. 
 
 Directly, all was bustle on board the little schooner. 
 Hastening his preparations, Jock got off the day of 
 their arrival. Peter Cook was not ready until the 
 following morning. Zach chanced to be on deck 
 within earshot, and heard the old trader's final direc- 
 tions to his departing clerk. He had grievous cause 
 many times afterwards to recall that moment, both 
 to applaud the old man's shrewdness and caution, 
 and to puzzle over the sly, shifty expression of the 
 clerk's face. 
 
 "Things hae sairly changed hereaboot sin we hae 
 been awa, lad. Ther 's an unco stir i' the air, but 
 it's nae affair o' ours, mind ye! Sae haud yer 
 tongue, but keep baith eyes and ears open." 
 
 "Never fear, sir! They 're not likely to catch me 
 napping." 
 
 "As ye '11 nae be ganging sae far awa frae Ham- 
 bly and Doyle, it wadna be amiss to drap in, in a 
 neighborly way, and see for yersel how the wind is 
 blawing. Ther 's talk thae twa hae turned their 
 backs on Colonel Nichols an' his teachings, sin he 
 sailed awa hame."
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 271 
 
 "Aha, I know 'em." 
 
 "An' hae gane ower, body an' saul, to Forbes & 
 Co., our rivals. They say I gie it only by way 
 o' hearsay, God forbid I sud speak ill o' ony ane ! 
 they say thae twa be haun an glove wi' the Yan- 
 kees, an' hae thus come by gude recht to be held in 
 suspicion by the redskins." 
 
 "I see." 
 
 "Aweel, this may na be a'taegether sae bad a 
 thing for us, mair by token I hae ever keepit my 
 word, gin it war my aith, wi' the redskins, an' they 
 bear it in mind, lad. Ay, ay, mind ye that ! Fair 
 dealin' is aye the true way, whether it be wi' saunt 
 or sinner." 
 
 "Not a doubt o' that, sir." 
 
 "An', Peter, ane word mair i' yer lug: gin ye 
 meet ony o' our auld frien's, the chiefs, haud a taut 
 grip o' yer tongue. They 're at loggerheads wi' 
 the Yankees lang syne, an' a' has gane wrang wi' 
 them, puir deevils, sin Colonel Nichols went awa. 
 Ther braw fort is ta'en awa by the thievish ney- 
 gurs, an' blawn up by the Yankees, an' nane o' the 
 gran' things promised by Nichols hae come to pass. 
 The Yankees play them fause, an' naebody '11 heed 
 ther complaints : sae tak ye nae sides i' the maitter, 
 or waur may come o't! " 
 
 A variety of small matters kept Arbuthnot at 
 Pensacola a week, which he spent mostly on shore 
 enjoying the hospitality of his friend the comman- 
 dant. 
 
 All being at last ready, they set off for the trad- 
 ing-station. Their course up the beautiful Suwanee,
 
 272 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 bordered for much of the way by the primeval for- 
 est, was an unusual and pleasant experience for 
 Zach. 
 
 Arrived, they found Jock and his attendant 
 eagerly awaiting them. All was in readiness, and 
 the next two weeks were passed in landing and stor- 
 ing the goods. 
 
 Meantime the Indians heard of their arrival, and 
 came every day in increasing numbers to trade. 
 With the others came also the chiefs, all old 
 friends of Arbuthnot, Opy Hatchy, Apiny, Map- 
 palitchy, and last but not least, the great Bolecks 
 himself. 
 
 Zach noted with a passing surprise that these 
 chieftains paid 'little heed to the tempting store of 
 goods laid out for their inspection, but with gloomy 
 looks and knitted brows were forever beckoning 
 the trader forth to whispered conferences in the 
 forest. 
 
 Whatever the purport of all these talks, they fur- 
 nished the trader with much food for reflection, for 
 he went about constantly with a look of preoccupa- 
 tion, and, quite unlike himself, would sit the whole 
 evening in the doorway, smoking his pipe, and never 
 open his mouth to speak. 
 
 The problem he was busied with was clearly not 
 one to be thought out in a minute, and weeks thus 
 passed weeks of busy days and long, thoughtful 
 evenings before he came to any conclusion. 
 
 At last, as it seemed, he made up his mind : one 
 day, after an unusually long conference with the 
 chiefs, Arbuthnot called Zach from the storehouse
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 273 
 
 into his own little room to act as his amanuensis, 
 he himself being disabled by rheumatism. 
 
 "I hae noted ye write fair an' large, lad, an' what 
 I here say I want writ as plain as ye ken hoo. I 
 charge ye til set doun ma preceese words, or mischief 
 may come o't." 
 
 Promising to do his best, Zach seated himself at 
 the little pine table and took up a pen. 
 
 "'Tis an uncanny business, this we hae to deal 
 wi', an' the less note ye tak o' what gaes intil yer 
 lug an oot o' yer pen, the better, mayhap, it may be 
 for ye." 
 
 With this introduction, than which nothing could 
 have served better to fix the attention of his aman- 
 uensis, the Scotchman dictated a letter to the Ameri- 
 can commandant at Fort Gaines, of which the follow- 
 ing extract contains the gist, both as to style and 
 substance : 
 
 "The head chiefs request that I will inquire of 
 you why American settlers are descending the Chat- 
 tahoochee, driving the poor Indian from his habita- 
 tion, and taking possession .of his home and culti- 
 vated fields ? Without authority, I can claim nothing 
 of you; but a humane and philanthropic principle 
 guiding me, I hope the same will influence you, and 
 if such is really the case, and the line marked out by 
 the treaty" of peace between Great Britain and the 
 United States respecting the Indian nation has been 
 infringed upon by the subjects of the latter, that you 
 will represent to them their improper conduct and 
 prevent its continuance." 
 
 Letters of like tenor were written to the British
 
 274 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 minister at Washington, to the Governor General at 
 Havana, to the Spanish governors in Florida, to the 
 commandants of American forts on the frontiers, to 
 Governor Mitchell of Georgia, to Colonel Nichols in 
 London, and others. 
 
 While it was evident from all this that the trader 
 had the cause of his red friends deeply at heart, 
 Zach remarked that in communication with them he 
 preserved a restraint of manner and conservatism 
 of tone not far removed from coolness. 
 
 Quite otherwise was it with Ambrister; charmed 
 with the reception accorded him by the chieftains, 
 and delighted by the freedom of their wildwood life, 
 he warmly espoused their cause and emphatically 
 expressed his indignation and sympathy. By a cer- 
 tain free and confident way of talking, moreover, he 
 soon inspired his new friends with unbounded con- 
 fidence in his ability to help them. 
 
 In justice let it be added, he did what he could to 
 make good his word. He appealed to his uncle, 
 Governor Cameron, at Nassau, he wrote to Colonel 
 Nichols, he consulted many others of authority and 
 influence, and meantime kept up the hopes of his 
 petitioners by assurances that some of these efforts 
 must succeed. 
 
 During all these weeks of waiting he passed much 
 of the time as an honored guest in the wigwams of 
 Bolecks and his followers. 
 
 Affairs at the station went on quietly and regu- 
 larly. After the return of Peter Cook, Arbuthnot 
 was relieved of much of the detail. It was a matter 
 of surprise to Zach that the bartering also was left
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 275 
 
 to this insignificant-looking young person. It may 
 as well be added in passing that he soon had occa- 
 sion to modify his opinion of the little clerk's abili- 
 ties. 
 
 Quite unexpectedly he overheard one or two bar- 
 gains made by Peter. Having met with unusual 
 success hunting, one day, he came home earlier than 
 usual and threw himself down on the grass outside 
 the warehouse door. Peter, all unsuspicious of 
 eavesdroppers, was bartering with some Indians 
 within. Listening idly at first, Zach presently sat 
 bolt upright and cocked his ear. The phlegm with 
 which the trader underrated the red man's skins, 
 and the effrontery with which he put an exorbitant 
 price upon the trinkets offered in exchange, made 
 the listener stare. His astonishment reached its 
 height when, in answer to the protests of the Indians, 
 he heard Peter in his cool drawl assure them that 
 these hard terms were exacted in strict accordance 
 with the instructions of Mr. Arbuthnot. 
 
 Such was the demand, however, that notwith- 
 standing these hard terms and high prices, the stock 
 of goods gradually diminished, and it became evi- 
 dent that Arbuthnot must soon go back to Nassau 
 for a fresh supply. Meanwhile the Indians, tired of 
 waiting for the long-delayed answers to the letters 
 he had written in their behalf, summoned him to 
 attend a council. He hesitated at first, and only at 
 the eleventh hour, with very evident reluctance, de- 
 cided to go. For some unassigned reason, he took 
 Zach with him. 
 
 Led by an Indian guide through several miles of
 
 276 ZACUARY PHIPS. 
 
 trackless forest, they came to a clearing where, 
 about an open camp-fire, they found a dozen chiefs 
 and braves assembled in solemn conclave. The 
 white men were gravely welcomed and assigned 
 places in the circle, where, not much to their sur- 
 prise, they found Ambrister already installed. 
 
 For a time nothing was said. Presently an old 
 chief arose and comprehensively stated the case of 
 the Indian against the United States of America, 
 winding up with an arraignment, very pointed and 
 forcible, of the civilized and so-called Christian 
 white man in his treatment of his so-called red 
 brother. 
 
 The speech was hardly concluded when Armbris- 
 ter got upon his legs. Directly, Arbuthnot's face 
 clouded, and he uttered one or two dry coughs. 
 Unheeding the warning, Armbrister went on with a 
 very vigorous discourse. He said in brief that it 
 was of no use to mince matters any longer, that the 
 Indians were right, that the Yankees had seized 
 upon their land and were crowding them out. That 
 these latter kept no word or oath, that they came on 
 like the ocean-tide, farther and farther every year. 
 As for the red men, they had now been warned off 
 even the small territory left them, lands which 
 had all once belonged to their fathers. The Great 
 Chief at Washington and the Great Chief over the 
 sea had made a treaty agreeing to give back to the 
 red men the lands taken from them. The Yankees 
 had broken their agreement. They had not given 
 back the lands, and they never would until they were 
 compelled. It was time to dig up the tomahawk,
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 277 
 
 and drive out these white serpents which had crept 
 into the red man's wigwam. 
 
 A chorus of grunts at the conclusion of this 
 harangue showed how every word had struck home. 
 Then fell a pause. Arbuthnot knew it was his 
 turn. He knew also how to make his words effec- 
 tive. He was no novice at a powwow. Deliber- 
 ately finishing his pipe, amid the most profound 
 silence he rose, knocked out the ashes, and, glan- 
 cing slowly about the circle, delivered himself in 
 cool, dry tones : 
 
 "Ma frien's, I hae hearkened to yer speeches, an' 
 I canna say I like them weel. What is set doon in 
 truth an' reason, I hae naething to deespute, but 
 for the rest an' the muckle pairt o't, 't is bairn's 
 play an' loud talk. Vinegar catcheth nae flees, an' 
 loud talk '11 do ye nae gude. It is na to be ques- 
 tioned the Yankees hae dune ye harm, but bide yer 
 time! Wrang is na righted in a day. Ye hae 
 heard o' the treaty: aweel, ken ye noo what is a 
 treaty? 'T is a solemn an' awesome compact, ilka 
 line an' word o' whilk is a sacred thing, whilk maun 
 be kept as the Gret Spirit keepeth his covenants. 
 'T is laid down in thet treaty ye s'all hae bock yer 
 launds ; an' sae ye s'all. Tak my word for it. But 
 't is a weary way frae this to Washington. The 
 Gret Chief yon kens little o' the doin's o' thae sons 
 o' Belial, an' when it comes to his attention, as I 
 hae ta'en pains it s'all, ye may be sure he '11 hae 
 justice dune ye. See, then, that naebody the whiles 
 raises han' to do ony harm to thae Yankees, that 
 naebody stirs up strife, that naebody does onythin'
 
 278 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 to brak the peace! Thae soort yon hae mair cun- 
 nin' an' force than yoursel's. Hae ye na marked 
 that they come forth frae ilka war with mair lands 
 and goods, whiles the red mon is driven far an' 
 farther awa frae the home o' his forbears? Tak ye, 
 then, the warnin' o' an auld mon! Bide yer time! 
 Do naethin' naethin' naethin'! " he solemnly 
 repeated, with both hands uplifted, "to brak the 
 peace! An' noo come awa wi' ye, Zach. We 
 maun een be makin' our way hame ! " 
 
 Without another word he stalked forth from the 
 circle, with Zach at his heels. Not unnaturally the 
 orator concluded that the Indians were impressed 
 with his speech, from the fact that for several weeks 
 all was quiet in the direction of Bolecks's village, 
 and the chiefs did not once show themselves at the 
 station. As the weeks, however, rounded into a 
 full month, this silence became ominous. Long 
 experienced in Indian tactics, the trader feared that 
 it boded something unwelcome. 
 
 The mystery was not destined to remain long un- 
 solved. One afternoon, as Zach stood lounging in 
 the doorway, a party of Indians suddenly emerged 
 from the forest and advanced towards the house. 
 At their head, an astonishing anomaly, marched 
 a tall savage, dressed in the splendor of an Eng- 
 lish military uniform, of which the tight - fitting 
 scarlet coat set off to great advantage his fine figure, 
 while the plumed hat added loftiness to his port. 
 Scarcely less remarkable than he, there walked by 
 his side a young girl of sixteen or thereabouts, of 
 quite phenomenal beauty.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 279 
 
 Arbuthnot was busy at a little distance from the 
 house, tinkering up a packing-box to hold his skins. 
 The party recognized and went towards him. 
 
 Curious to know something of visitors so unusual 
 in appearance, Zach called Peter Cook to explain. 
 
 The clerk's face darkened at sight of them, and 
 he responded with a disturbed look to Zach's ques- 
 tions, 
 
 "Humph! what does he want?" 
 
 "Who is it?" 
 
 "The great Prophet Francis." 
 
 "A chief?" 
 
 "Yes no just the same thing. He has great 
 power over the copper skins. He 's the one Colonel 
 Nichols took over to England. The Londoners 
 made a show of him, took him to court, dressed 
 him up like a turkey-cock, and turned his head. 
 But," concluded Peter, muttering to himself and 
 withdrawing out of observation behind Zach, 
 "what 's he speechifying to the old man about?" 
 
 "Who is the girl?" pursued Zach, unheeding his 
 companion's anxiety. 
 
 "His daughter, to be sure, a sparkler, ain't 
 she? As civilized, too, as you please, and speaks 
 English like a Johnny Bull. She can write, and 
 read, and chatter Spanish, and they have taught 
 her to dance, down there at the fort. You should 
 see Malee dressed up in the London toggery her 
 dad brought out to her." 
 
 "The Prophet Francis, "muttered Zach, scanning 
 the group with growing interest. 
 
 " The Yankees gave him that name. He is called
 
 280 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 Hillishajo among his own sort," explained Peter, 
 who, noticing that the group was gradually nearing 
 the house, suddenly withdrew. 
 
 As the interview between her father and Arbuth- 
 not bade fair to be a protracted one, the girl was 
 soon observed to grow restive, and, separating from 
 the group, began to saunter about the clearing and 
 back and forth before the door. 
 
 Divining her curiosity, Zach graciously invited 
 her in, and shrewdly reasoning that the savage young 
 woman might share certain weaknesses common to 
 her civilized sister, spread before her wondering 
 eyes his tempting array of small wares. As she, 
 however, had nothing to offer in exchange, it was, 
 on his part, purely a labor of love. His pains were 
 rewarded by her evident delight, which was so great 
 that when, at last, summoned to go by her father, 
 she had great ado to tear herself away. 
 
 Thereupon Zach, noting the struggle, by some 
 happy or unhappy impulse, presented her with a 
 small hand-mirror. 
 
 More eloquent far than spoken words of gratitude 
 were the beaming looks of the enraptured Malee. 
 She gazed with open and unstinted admiration at 
 her own reflected image, and was, indeed, so lost in 
 its contemplation that her impatient father came in 
 person to summon her forth. 
 
 With an amused look Zach stood in the doorway 
 gazing after the party, as they moved away, noting 
 the vigorous stride of the father and the free, grace- 
 ful, movement of the girl. As they reached the edge 
 of the woods, Malee suddenly turned about, but
 
 ZACHABT PHIPS. 281 
 
 finding herself observed, shyly dropped her head, 
 and Zach imagined he could detect a flush suffusing 
 her dusky cheek as, speeding after her father, she 
 disappeared beneath the overhanging boughs. 
 
 Hardly had the party disappeared when the 
 trader, leaving his work, came slowly towards the 
 house. As he made room for him to pass in, Zach 
 noticed that the old man's face was white and stern. 
 Calling Peter from his work in the outer warehouse, 
 the Scotchman ushered him into the little office and 
 carefully shut the door. The precaution was idle, 
 for through the open window every word of the fol- 
 lowing colloquy was distinctly heard by Zach, as he 
 stood in the doorway. 
 
 "Sae, ye fause villain! hoo daur ye staund up 
 an' look me i' the ee?" 
 
 "What have I done?" 
 
 "What hae ye dune? What hae ye dune, ye 
 domned leein', deceitful, fause-hearted traitor! I 
 hae muckle ado to haud off my han'sfrae yer throat. 
 What hae ye dune? Recht weel ye ken, an' recht 
 weel ken I. Ye hae cozened the puir redskins oot 
 o' their fair returns, ye hae extorted unheerd o' 
 prices. Ye hae robbed an' cheated, an' leed, an' 
 dune a' i' my name, till I hae nae credit left wi' 
 white man or red, an' it maun be oot o' the mercy 
 o' Providence gin my trade be na a'taegether 
 ruined." 
 
 " Who said I did this? Where are your proofs? " 
 
 "Proofs? Haud yer fause, leein' tongue, or 
 ye '11 gar me tear it oot ! Dinna doot, I hae proofs 
 enow an' to spare. But \vhare pit ye yer ill-gotten
 
 282 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 gains? Whare, I say? Gin ye gin na back ilka 
 baubee to its lawfu' owner, Diel tak me, but I '11 
 ban' ye ower to be dealt wi' by the savages ! " 
 
 "I can't give back what I hain't got," was the 
 sullen answer. 
 
 "Stop whaur ye be, ye puir, little, drivelin', 
 crawlin' reptile! Gin ye provoke me ane point 
 mair, I '11 lay ban's on ye mysel. Stop, I say ! I 
 hae na tauld the half o' yer villainy. It has a' 
 come to licht, the lees ye tauld Hamblyand Doyle." 
 
 "What have I told them?" cried the accused, 
 with a show of effrontery. 
 
 "Aboot ma dealin's wi' the redskins. Ye hae 
 tried to stir up mischief amang us. Ye hae tauld 
 them I waur spreadin' tales an' lees aboot them. 
 Ye hae spread reports that I am stirrin' up the red- 
 skins to mak war upon the Yankees, when ye weel 
 know in yer fause heart I hae been ever workin' 
 an' strivin' an' cryin' oot for peace." 
 
 "If you believe all the lies which that copperskin 
 has been pourin' into your ears about me " 
 
 "I do I do, an' I hae guid cause." 
 
 " Let any man prove that I ever " 
 
 "Hae dune wi' yer braggadocio! It'll nae gae 
 doun wi' me. Proofs, said he ? Here be proofs enow ! 
 See ye here! an' here! an' here! What hae ye 
 noo to say? Is yer ain sign-manual proof , or no? 
 Oh, awa wi' ye! Awa, oot o' my sicht! Gang awa, 
 oot o' ma house, afore the day 's an hour aulder! " 
 
 "You are not g-going to send me away? " 
 
 "That am I, that am I, as fast as yer rogue's 
 legs '11 carry ye."
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 283 
 
 " Wh-where can I go? " 
 
 "I care na, I ken na. It 's a' ane to me. Gae 
 to them that hauld dealin's wi' siccan snakes i' the 
 grass! Awa wi' ye, I say! An' ne'er darken my 
 doorway, or come near til me, or speak til me, or 
 I '11 na answer for my patience! " 
 
 Pale and crestfallen, Peter came forth from the 
 interview. A half hour later, with his pack swung 
 over his shoulder, he started off from the station. 
 Reaching the edge of the woods, he suddenly turned, 
 threw down his pack, and, extending both arms, 
 shook his clenched fists as if cursing the house and 
 its inmates.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 VERY soon after the discharge of Peter, Arbuth- 
 not and young Jock set sail for Nassau, leaving 
 Zach, with a stout negro slave for attendant, in 
 charge of the station. 
 
 For a time things went on as usual ; then came a 
 great and sudden influx of trade. Noting that the 
 increased demand was all in the direction of ammu- 
 nition, Zach asked the cause, and was told it was 
 due to the approach of the hunting season. 
 
 The reason seemed good, and he was satisfied; 
 but seeing his stock so rapidly diminish, he be- 
 thought him, before it was exhausted, to secrete a 
 store for private use beneath the floor of the store- 
 house. 
 
 Deep was the chagrin of the late -comers when 
 told that the supply had given out. Nothing would 
 satisfy them of the truth of the statement but a 
 thorough search of the premises. 
 
 Thereafter, trade fell off as rapidly as it had in- 
 creased. The grass sprang up in the worn places 
 before the storehouse door, and silence settled down 
 upon the once bustling station. The few Indians 
 who came spent their time prying and peering about 
 instead of trading. 
 
 This discovery caused the young trader a natural 
 uneasiness. He tried to persuade himself, however,
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 285 
 
 that it had no significance, and might have suc- 
 ceeded, but for a little incident which came to upset 
 his theory. 
 
 Out gunning, one day, in his canoe, he floated a 
 half -score miles down the river before noticing his 
 whereabouts, and returning, made such slow head- 
 way against wind and tide that he was overtaken 
 by nightfall before reaching home. 
 
 Hugging the shore, he paddled along in the fading 
 light until, as he rounded a headland not far from 
 the station, he was aroused by a call from the neigh- 
 boring thicket. Dropping his paddle and seizing 
 his rifle, he looked keenly towards the spot whence 
 the voice proceeded, when directly the figure of a 
 human being whether man or woman he could 
 not make out stepped forth and, softly hallooing, 
 beckoned him to approach. 
 
 With some hesitation he turned towards the shore 
 and recognized Malee, who, stepping softly down to 
 the water's edge, made him a signal not to land, 
 while at the same time she leaned forward to speak. 
 
 "Keep off I" 
 
 "But why, then, did you" 
 
 "Sh-h-h!" 
 
 "What do you want?" 
 
 "I have a word to speak to you." 
 
 "A word?" 
 
 "Take care I" 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "Keep your eye always open over there," pointing 
 towards the station, "and" 
 
 "And?"
 
 286 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 "Go not so far away from home! " 
 Before the perplexed youth could ask any expla- 
 nation, the speaker had vanished, and only the shrill 
 cry of the tree-toad and the distant wail of the whip- 
 poorwill awoke the echoes of the darkening forest. 
 
 The warning thus received, combined with the 
 odd and suspicious behavior of the Indians, so filled 
 Zach with misgiving that he was tempted more than 
 once to take the negro and dog and paddle away 
 down the river to the Gulf. Pride, however, season- 
 ably interfered. The trader had left him in charge 
 of his property; it was plainly his duty to watch 
 over and defend it. 
 
 Thereafter, he was more cautious, forbade the 
 negro to stray far away from the house, patroled 
 the neighboring forest by day, and slept with bolted 
 doors and cocked pistols at night. 
 
 About a week after his meeting with Malee, he 
 was surprised by a visit from a stranger, a white 
 man. The new-comer made some slight purchase 
 as a pretext for his visit, but spent his time for the 
 most part in asking questions and peering about. 
 Put on his guard by this prying manner, Zach 
 showed -himself not only very chary in giving in- 
 formation, but quite wanting in the rude border 
 hospitality usually extended to strangers. He had 
 cause afterwards to approve his own caution when, 
 the man having departed, Quimbo the negro came 
 in, asking excitedly, 
 
 " Wha' he come yer fer? " 
 
 "Dunno. Who is he?" 
 
 "Dat'sMas'r Hambly."
 
 ZACH ART PHIPS. 287 
 
 Remembering Arbuthnot's opinion of his visitor, 
 Zach did not feel reassured by the incident; espe- 
 cially one bit of their talk came again and again to 
 mind to puzzle and trouble him. 
 . "Got old Bolecks for a neighbor, ain't ye? " 
 
 "Yeah." 
 
 "Wall, look out for him! " 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "The old snake is hissin' agin." 
 
 "What 's the matter with him? " 
 
 "Too much of the devil in him to keep still. He 's 
 gittin' the whole brood of copperskins stirred up. 
 They 've got to goin' at their old tantrums agin, 
 but," with a cunning look, "you don't care, o 
 course." 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "What difference does it make to you if they 
 scalp every white man 'twixt this an' the Gulf, as 
 they threaten. You 're all safe." 
 
 "How so?" 
 
 "The old man here is so thick with 'em, they 
 won't touch nothin' belongin' to him." 
 
 "Arbuthnot?" 
 
 "Yeah. They say he egged 'em on to this 'fore 
 he went away." 
 
 "It 's a lie! " cried Zach, flaring up with a look 
 so fierce that the visitor discreetly changed the sub- 
 ject. 
 
 Next day, to the extreme surprise of its solitary 
 occupant, Jock, followed by a negro slave, walked 
 into the station. Zach, who had imagined him half 
 way to Nassau, could hardly believe his eyes. Jock
 
 288 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 speedily explained that his father had heard so many 
 disquieting rumors on his way to the Gulf of a 
 threatened outbreak between the white men and the 
 Indians, on account of the continued aggression of 
 the Yankees, that it was thought better one of them 
 should come back and help to watch over and guard 
 their interests at the station. 
 
 In view of this sobering news, and of the special 
 directions of the trader, the two youths, with the as- 
 sistance of their slaves, diligently set to work pack- 
 ing up goods and peltry, making all things ready in 
 case of need for an immediate removal. 
 
 This accomplished, they found little to do for 
 latterly their trade had fallen off entirely save 
 to supply from the natural sources about them the 
 scanty needs of their larder, and to discuss plans of 
 action in case of surprise. 
 
 Busied with this subject, one afternoon, Zach sat 
 in the doorway, while Jock had gone a few rods 
 down the river fishing, and the two slaves were hard 
 at work in the woods near by making a dugout. 
 
 Save for an occasional murmur of talk from the 
 negroes and the dull thud of their tools, a deep 
 silence brooded over forest and river. The warm, 
 languorous air, moreover, tempted to sleep, and ac- 
 cordingly Zach was about dozing off in the midst of 
 his plans, when he was aroused by the strange be- 
 havior of his dog. In the very midst of a canine 
 dream, the dog had suddenly started up, begun to 
 bark, and to prick his ears towards a definite point 
 of the forest. Glancing in that direction, Zach him- 
 self fancied he saw something move. Seizing his
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 289 
 
 gun, therefore, he walked rapidly towards the spot, 
 followed by the growling dog. 
 
 Arrived at the edge of the woods, he cautiously 
 advanced into the cover. Stopping to listen, he 
 heard a faint crackling of dry twigs, as of some one 
 stealthily withdrawing. Mounting the stump of a 
 fallen tree, he was just in time to catch a glimpse 
 of somebody gliding nimbly away into the deeper 
 recesses of the forest. It was Malee. 
 
 Reassured, Zach was at the same time puzzled. 
 On what errand was the girl hovering about the 
 station? Had she come again to warn him of the 
 same or some other impending danger? Or had she 
 been brought by simple curiosity? Adopting the 
 latter explanation, he returned to the house, and 
 dismissed the matter from his thoughts. 
 
 Meantime, at intervals during the ensuing fort- 
 night, the dog continued his odd behavior, appeared 
 restive, broke forth into sudden and spasmodic fits 
 of barking, stared at the forest now in this, now in 
 that direction, sniffing and growling. 
 
 All this was disturbing, and despite some doughty 
 resolutions to the contrary, the two youths found 
 themselves ill at ease. The forest seemed bristling 
 with unknown and innumerable foes. The air 
 seemed thick with plots and mystery. 
 
 In this state of mind they hailed as a comfort the 
 visit of a party of white men, who one morning drew 
 up before the door. They easily recognized them 
 for Yankees. The strangers wanted ammunition, 
 and were much chagrined to be denied. When 
 Zach, furthermore, with a view of establishing their
 
 290 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 
 
 credit as traders, ingenuously acknowledged that a 
 store of it had been brought over from Nassau, but 
 that latterly large quantities had been sold to the 
 Indians on account of the approach of the hunting 
 season, the men whistled, and exchanged glances 
 with one another. 
 
 One of them, moved perhaps by Zach's straight- 
 forward manner, turned back as they were about 
 setting forth on their way, and whispered a warning 
 that they had better get down the river forthwith 
 into the protection of the forts, that a general war 
 was impending, that the savages were aroused and 
 organizing, and that the United States Government, 
 stirred up by some late atrocities, had dispatched 
 General Andrew Jackson, at the head of a large 
 force, "to crush the whole brood of varmints, root 
 and branch." 
 
 Convinced by the man's manner that he spoke the 
 truth, Zach felt that the time for action had arrived, 
 and after a long consultation with Jock, decided upon 
 a very bold expedient. Relying upon the long and 
 tried friendship existing between the Indians and 
 Arbuthnot, he resolved to go at once to Bolecks, as 
 the most powerful of the sachems, and ask of him 
 some assurance or safeguard that, in the threatened 
 hostilities, life and property at the trading-station 
 should be respected. 
 
 He lost no time in carrying his plan into execu- 
 tion. Leaving the negroes and the dog for Jock's 
 protection, he took his rifle, and set out for Boleeks's 
 village. The distance was short, and the way well 
 known. Arrived at the straggling but considerable
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 291 
 
 hamlet, he found it deserted, save by the old men, 
 women, and children. He was told that Bolecks and 
 his warriors were absent on a hunting expedition. 
 With much difficulty, and after repeated explana- 
 tions of his purpose, he was at last given the direc- 
 tion of their camp by a squaw who had been often 
 at the station. 
 
 Intent upon effecting his purpose, he set forth 
 upon the difficult and perilous undertaking of find- 
 ing the Indian rendezvous. As the shortest course 
 was by the river, he returned to the station and got 
 his canoe. In this way, too, he could more easily 
 take the necessary store of provisions and ammu- 
 nition. His first day passed without adventure or 
 mischance. At night he slept undisturbed in his 
 canoe, and started on his way next morning without 
 misgiving. About midday, as he reached a narrow 
 part of the stream, he was aroused from his reveries 
 by the loud crack of a rifle and the whistling of a 
 bullet close above his head. 
 
 Directly thereupon, the woods resounded with a 
 deafening yell, the thicket seemed to bristle with 
 the muzzles of leveled rifles, and a score or more of 
 ugly painted faces scowled upon him from the nearer 
 shore. 
 
 Throwing down the paddles, Zach seized his rifle, 
 but recognizing the folly of resistance, made a sign 
 of surrender. Promptly three or four half -naked 
 savages leaped into the stream, and dragged the 
 little boat ashore, where its occupant was roughly 
 disarmed and bound. 
 
 Although he understood nothing of the talk of his
 
 292 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 captors, and could not make out to what tribe they 
 belonged, the fact that their faces were daubed 
 with paint, and that they were all heavily armed, 
 showed plainly enough that they were on the war- 
 path. 
 
 Let it not be supposed that Zach suffered him- 
 self to be taken away without a vigorous protest ! 
 Having no experience of their manner of talking, 
 he blurted out what he had to say after his own 
 fashion : 
 
 "Look here, my friends, you've captured me, 
 an' I 've got to go with you, because you are ten to 
 one, but I want to say one thing: I've done you 
 no harm. I hain't meddled with you or your 
 business. I don't care anything about you, one way 
 or the other. I 'm a clerk of Arbuthnot's. Arbuth- 
 not is your friend. He is the only friend you 've 
 got among the whites, so far as I can make out. 
 That 's his canoe yonder, an' I 'm going down to 
 see old Bolecks on his business. You won't gain 
 anything by taking me off. You '11 only injure 
 Arbuthnot. That 's all I got to say." 
 
 The Indians affected not to understand, but he 
 saw from their looks that they were lying. He 
 made no further resistance or objection, but trudged 
 stolidly on in the midst of the troop as they resumed 
 their march. 
 
 At nightfall they arrived at a large encampment, 
 where the prisoner saw at once that the rumors lie 
 had heard were only too well founded. That a 
 general and organized revolt was on foot, he could 
 have no further doubt; and from the grim looks of
 
 ZACH ART PHIPS. 293 
 
 the chiefs and warriors, he felt he had arrived at an 
 unpropitious moment. 
 
 Noting with anxiety the reception accorded to his 
 little band of captors, he was somewhat relieved by 
 the grant of indifference with which the old chief, 
 to whom they reported, surveyed him. 
 
 Unhappily, a feast followed, during which much 
 liquor was drunk, and a party of scouts arrived, 
 who, as it seemed from their excited looks, brought 
 unwelcome news. What with the whiskey and the 
 inflammatory reports of the new-comers, the whole 
 assemblage was gradually wrought up to such a 
 pitch that when, in the course of the powwow, a 
 chance allusion drew attention to the prisoner, there 
 was a shout of exultation, as if one and all re- 
 joiced to find so near at hand a scapegoat for their 
 wrath. 
 
 Directly, a half dozen young braves ran to unbind 
 Zach and lead him into the middle of the circle. As 
 before, he made out nothing of their talk, but from 
 their mood and looks was justified in auguring the 
 worst. 
 
 There followed a chorus of conflicting suggestions 
 as to the disposal of their victim, which was silenced 
 by one of the chiefs, who, with some brief word of 
 command, pointed to a neighboring tree. 
 
 In a twinkling Zach was stripped and bound to 
 the jagged trunk. He submitted without protest, 
 looking about attentively upon the circle as if with 
 a purpose. Presently, through the disguise of war- 
 paint, he recognized a face which he had seen before, 
 that of the Prophet Francis.
 
 294 ZACIIARY PHIPS. 
 
 At tte moment any chance was worth taking, and 
 thereupon Zach made a vigorous effort to attract 
 the attention of one who, as he knew, could at 
 least understand him. His attempt was frustrated 
 and his voice drowned by the loud shouts of those 
 immediately about him. 
 
 Meantime, the preparations went on : a space was 
 cleared and a big bonfire built upon one side of the 
 tree, the glare of which, falling upon the bare white 
 skin of the victim, brought it out in vivid relief 
 against the dark background of the forest. A 
 crowd of young warriors, gathered at a set distance, 
 were waiting in eager impatience for the sport to 
 begin. There was a pause, during which the com- 
 petitors listened breathlessly for the word of com- 
 mand. In that brief moment of suspense, hurled 
 by some reckless and tipsy hand, a tomahawk whis- 
 tled through the air and struck with a sharp thud 
 in the tree, above the victim's head. 
 
 In the tumult that followed, a young woman was 
 seen to spring from the mass of exulting spectators, 
 and place herself before the victim, facing his tor- 
 mentors. 
 
 With a deep-drawn sigh of relief, Zach recognized 
 the prophet's daughter. 
 
 Undeterred by the angry protests called forth by 
 her action, and indifferent, as it seemed, to the 
 threats of the tipsy young braves whose sport she 
 was spoiling, Malee held her place, while in a bold 
 and impetuous appeal she addressed the chiefs. 
 Owing to the confusion and uproar, her speech was 
 inaudible and failed of effect.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 295 
 
 Irritated by her persistence, an overbold young 
 warrior strode forward and, seizing her by the arm, 
 attempted to thrust her out of the way. Drawing 
 a knife from her girdle, the incensed girl turned 
 upon him with a fury which made him recoil, and 
 thereupon Hillishajo's potent voice was heard bid- 
 ding the assailant begone. 
 
 Thus left in possession of the field, Malee failed 
 not to take full advantage of her opportunity. 
 Continuing her appeal now to attentive ears, she 
 soon succeeded, by force of reason or eloquence, in 
 producing an impression upon the listening chiefs. 
 
 Hillishajo came forward and condescended to 
 scrutinize the prisoner. Failing to recognize him, 
 he turned, with a look of doubt, to his daughter. 
 Zach, seeing his chance, put in his oar, and quietly 
 reminded the prophet of his visit to the station in 
 English dress on the occasion when he had given 
 Malee the mirror. 
 
 Thereupon, the prophet withdrew and held a con- 
 ference with the other chiefs; they deliberated for 
 several minutes, while Malee defiantly held her 
 place between the bloodthirsty warriors and their 
 victim. 
 
 Deep was the anger and disgust of these young 
 cutthroats when the decision was announced. For 
 the moment the captive's life was spared, his clothes 
 were restored, and he was removed under guard to 
 the outskirts of the circle. As throughout the or- 
 deal he had shown firmness of nerve, so now he took 
 care to betray no satisfaction upon his escape. In- 
 deed, from the sullen and threatening looks of the
 
 296 ZACUARY PIIIPS. 
 
 crowd through which he passed, he realized that 
 any feeling of congratulation was yet premature. 
 
 As he was led away, he looked eagerly around for 
 Malee, but she had already disappeared. 
 
 Next day camp was broken, the Prophet Francis 
 (Hillishajo), with a small party, turned back on some 
 hurried errand to St. Marks, while the main body 
 pushed on through the forest, to what destination or 
 for what purpose the prisoner was left to surmise. 
 He, although unbound, was given in charge of two 
 young warriors, who marched on either side with 
 loaded rifles. 
 
 A second and a third day found them still on the 
 march, and being accorded scant rations and little 
 rest, the whole party began to look the worse for 
 wear. Happily, their course was at an end. At 
 nightfall they arrived at their destination, an island 
 in a vast swamp, where they found assembled a large 
 multitude of Indians of various tribes, all encamped 
 in much disorder. 
 
 A night of commotion was followed by a day of 
 turmoil. The constant arrival of small parties of 
 scouts and tardy contingents, each bringing reports 
 of some new outrage or aggression of the enemy, 
 kept the passions of the mass at fever-heat. The 
 fierce eyes gleaming forth from the bedaubed faces 
 of these new-comers and the bleeding scalps hanging 
 from their belts could not have proved a reassuring 
 spectacle for the prisoner. 
 
 An unusual commotion followed the arrival of 
 one of these parties. Eager to see what was going 
 on, Zach's guards dragged him forward towards Bo-
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 297 
 
 lecks's wigwam, which seemed the headquarters of 
 the army. There, what was the prisoner's astonish- 
 ment to see Jock standing before the assembled 
 sachems, reading aloud to them the following letter 
 from his father, 
 
 " FORT ST. MARK, 2 April, 1818, 
 9 o. c. in the morning. 
 
 " DEAR JOHN, As I am ill able to write a long 
 letter, it is necessary to be brief. Before my ar- 
 rival here the commandant had received an express 
 from the governor of Pensacola informing him of a 
 large embarkation of troops, etc. , under the immedi- 
 ate command of General Jackson, and the boat that 
 brought the dispatch reckoned eighteen sail of ves- 
 sel off Appalachicola. By a deserter that was 
 brought here by the Indians, the commandant was 
 informed that three thousand men under the orders 
 of General Jackson one thousand men afoot, six- 
 teen hundred horse under General Gaines, five 
 hundred under another general were at Prospect 
 Bluffs. . . . 
 
 "Late in the afternoon three schooners came to 
 anchor at the mouth of the river, and this morning 
 the American flag is seen flying over the largest. 
 I am blocked here. . . . The main drift of the 
 Americans is to destroy the black population at Su- 
 wany. Tell my friend Bolecks that it is throwing 
 away his people to attempt to resist such a powerful 
 force. . . . Endeavor to get all the goods across 
 the river to a place of security, and also the skins of 
 all sorts. The corn must be left to its fate. Soon 
 as the Sahwahnee is destroyed, I expect the Amer-
 
 298 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 icans will be satisfied and retire. . . . Himathlo 
 and Hillishajo were here last night. . . . They 
 will remove all their cattle and effects across St. 
 Marks River, and perhaps wait near thereto for the 
 event. . . . 
 
 "If the schooner is returned, get all the goods on 
 board of her and let her start off for Monater Creek 
 in the bottom of Cedar Key bay. You will then 
 have only the skins to hide away. But let no delay 
 take place. . . . Let the bearer have as much calico 
 as will make him two shirts. . . . 
 
 I am yours affectionately, 
 
 A. ABBUTHNOT." 
 
 Well had it been for young Jock if, when he had 
 finished reading this letter, he had cast it into the 
 camp-fire at his feet. In a fatal moment he handed 
 it to Bolecks. Its contents caused a profound sensa- 
 tion. It had the immediate effect of restoring the 
 lost prestige of Alexander Arbuthnot. The chiefs 
 saw now that their suspicions of their old friend 
 were unfounded. But his warning came too late. 
 They were too deeply aroused to heed wholesome ad- 
 vice from any quarter. The gods had made them 
 mad, and madly they rushed on to destruction. 
 
 His audience with the chiefs concluded, Jock 
 withdrew to find rest and refreshment. His wants 
 were eagerly attended to. As he sat, soon after 
 eating, in a neighboring wigwam, he felt himself 
 touched lightly upon the arm. Turning, he recog- 
 nized Malee. In obedience to her imperative signal, 
 he rose with much reluctance from his half -finished
 
 ZACHAEY PUIPS. 299 
 
 supper and followed her. Having led the way to 
 the outskirts of the encampment, she paused in the 
 shadow of a large tree and pointed to a group of 
 three persons seated about a fire. In one of them, 
 to his measureless astonishment, he recognized Zach. 
 
 It was a joyous meeting. In a few minutes, Zach 
 explained his predicament. Forthwith Jock betook 
 himself to headquarters, where he scrupled not to 
 invade the powwow of the chiefs and establish the 
 identity of the prisoner. 
 
 Grateful for the late show of friendliness on the 
 part of the trader, the sachems, without more ado, 
 gave orders that the prisoner be released and be 
 allowed to proceed on his journey. 
 
 As the object of his mission had been unexpect- 
 edly accomplished by Arbuthnot's letter, Zach had 
 nothing to do but return with Jock to the station, 
 and carry out as speedily as possible the directions 
 in the letter. 
 
 Accordingly, having procured from Bolecks a 
 guide, they started next morning early on their 
 homeward way, Zach having first made a hasty sur- 
 vey of the camp in hopes that he might have a word 
 with Malee. Finding no trace of her, he concluded 
 that she had been one of a party of squaws sent back 
 the previous day to Suwanee. 
 
 Hardly, however, had they got beyond the imme- 
 diate neighborhood of the encampment, when they 
 came upon the girl walking alone in the forest. She 
 started at sight of them, and was about to make off, 
 when Zach called for her to stop. 
 
 Hurrying up, he held out his hand. Malee, with
 
 300 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 downcast eyes, plucked in a shamefaced way at her 
 skirt, and affected not to see it. 
 
 "You saved my life," began Zach, bluntly; "no 
 matter whether it was worth saving or not, it was a 
 great thing for you to do. Those ruffians were go- 
 ing to hack me up for their fun, and you stopped it. 
 I don't know what made you take such a risk for 
 me. But you did, and that 's enough. I saw it. 
 I felt it, and I thank you from the bottom of my 
 heart. I sha'n't forget you, and I sha'n't forget 
 what you did, and I hope you will shake hands with 
 me before I go." 
 
 Flushing pink through her dark skin, Malee shyly 
 touched her hand to his and then darted away, shak- 
 ing the dew from the underbrush and startling the 
 birds from their coverts in her fawn-like flight.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 "LET it be signified to me through any channel 
 . . . that the possession of the Floridas would be 
 desirable to the United States," wrote Andrew 
 Jackson from The Hermitage, to President Mon- 
 roe at the White House, "and in sixty days it will 
 be accomplished." 
 
 President Monroe, being sick abed, did not feel 
 up to reading the tiresome-looking letter handed him 
 by his Secretary of State, and so tucked it under 
 the pillow to await his mood and leisure. 
 
 As time and again airier nothings than this have 
 changed the course of history, it need be no cause 
 for wonder that this small incident gave the current 
 of contemporaneous events a very perceptible twist, 
 for thus it chanced that the maddest of mad bulls 
 was let loose in the international china-shop, or, 
 in other words, that the doughty Andrew afore- 
 said, hearing nothing of the letter tucked under the 
 presidential pillow, and taking silence for assent, 
 straightway raised an army on his own hook and 
 started off oil one of the most extraordinary ma- 
 rauding expeditions known to history. 
 
 Sojourning upon Spanish soil, a guest of the 
 commandant of a Spanish fort, Arbuthnot heard 
 without misgiving of the approach of Andrew Jack- 
 son and his army. With a conscience void of
 
 302 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 offense, protected by the flag of a powerful nation, 
 he had personally no cause for concern. So it 
 seemed ; in point of fact, however, he was destined 
 to be speedily and rudely awaked from a peace 
 founded upon such crude and old-time reasoning. 
 
 Not less startling than a cyclone was the advent 
 of the Yankee leader to the sleepy southern penin- 
 sula. The earth seemed to shake, the air to be 
 stirred at his approach. Despite the fact that 
 Spain and the United States were at peace, despite 
 certain puerile considerations of international law, 
 despite other stale moral distinctions of right and 
 wrong, the unceremonious American scrupled not to 
 swoop down upon the unoffending commandant of 
 St. Marks, turn him neck and crop out of doors, 
 take possession of his stronghold, and shake out the 
 stars and stripes above its ramparts. 
 
 Collecting his dazed wits, and concluding very 
 wisely, under the circumstances, that as a British 
 subject his own room would be better than his com- 
 pany, the worthy Scotchman mounted his horse, in 
 the bustle attending upon the evacuation, and was 
 about to ride away upon his business, when he was 
 arrested and made a prisoner. 
 
 Meanwhile Zach and young Arbuthnot, having, 
 according to the trader's directions, buried the bulk 
 of their goods and skins in a secure place near the 
 station, took to their canoes, paddled down the river, 
 and arrived safely on board the schooner, which 
 they found standing off and on near the mouth of 
 the Suwanee, awaiting the return of its owner from 
 a visit to his old friend the commandant.
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 303 
 
 Aware of the arrival of the American army, and 
 uneasy at the trader's prolonged absence, Zach, leav- 
 ing the Chance in charge of his companion, went 
 ashore to reconnoitre. 
 
 Arriving at the town, he was bewildered to hear 
 of the arrest of Arbuthnot. Warned by so unac- 
 countable a proceeding to keep clear of the fort, he 
 loitered in the neighborhood, watching for an oppor- 
 tunity to communicate with his employer. Hearing 
 by chance of the presence of some Indians in the 
 neighborhood, he sought them out, hoping to learn 
 the reason of the old Scotchman's imprisonment. 
 
 They proved to be a detachment of Seminoles 
 under the Prophet Francis, who, having success- 
 fully conveyed his cattle across the river, was now 
 encamped with his little band on the opposite side 
 to note the movements of the enemy. 
 
 Great was the wrath of Hillishajo on hearing of 
 Arbuthnot's arrest. Directly, the last cloud of sus- 
 picion melted into thin air, and it was accepted as 
 sufficient proof of the trader's loyalty to the Indians 
 that he was treated as an enemy by the Yankees. 
 With a profound contempt for that mongrel people, 
 acquired during his residence in London, the Pro- 
 phet was for rescuing his old friend by a night at- 
 tack on the fort. To this end he sent out scouts to 
 learn the most assailable point of the stronghold. 
 
 As Zach could countenance no such attack upon 
 his own countrymen, he was greatly embarrassed by 
 the sachem's enthusiasm. 
 
 Cudgeling his brain for some way out of the 
 difficulty, he was unexpectedly relieved by the sud-
 
 304 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 den arrival of Malee with a party from the interior, 
 bringing news from Bolecks and the allied chief- 
 tains, and summoning the Prophet to repair with all 
 haste to Suwanee. 
 
 Constrained by this imperative call, Hillishajo 
 reluctantly gave up the attempt to release the pris- 
 oner, but assured Zach that if General Jackson 
 dared to invade the Indian country as he had threat- 
 ened, he would there fall into an ambush which was 
 preparing for him, and together with his army be 
 utterly destroyed, when it would be an easy matter 
 to reinstate the commandant and deliver Arbuthnot. 
 
 Zach readily accepted the excuse, and in further 
 testimony of his good-will, accepted the Prophet's 
 invitation to pass the night in camp. 
 
 Next morning, what was the surprise and joy of 
 the Indians, on getting up, to behold a war-vessel 
 near the mouth of the river flying the British flag. 
 The Prophet could hardly contain himself. He 
 grunted like a savage. He swore like a white man. 
 Here was one strong enough to put down the blus- 
 tering Yankee. Here in the very nick of time were 
 his old and faithful friends come to his rescue. 
 
 Taking Himollemico, one of his chiefs, for atten- 
 dant, the Prophet lost no time in rowing over to pay 
 his respects to the new-comers. 
 
 His followers, meanwhile, waited on shore in con- 
 fident expectation of his cordial welcome. From 
 their outlook upon the river's bluff they could dimly 
 see what took place on the vessel's deck. 
 
 The chiefs were promptly hoisted on board, were 
 received with apparent cordiality by the officers of
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 305 
 
 the vessel, and, after a little conversation, were 
 shown below. An hour, two hours, ten hours passed, 
 and they did not reappear. The long day wore 
 away, and still the group of watchers stood anx- 
 iously waiting. At sunset there was a movement 
 on board the vessel. With one accord a cry of 
 rage and despair burst from the Indians. The 
 English flag had been hauled down, and the Ameri- 
 can colors run up in its place. 
 
 At last the dumfounded savages understood. 
 They had been duped by a Yankee trick. Their 
 chiefs had been lured on board a Yankee vessel. 
 
 Straightway they held a council of war. It was 
 evident from their looks that they were discussing 
 desperate measures. The powwow was interrupted 
 by a cry from Malee. She was standing on the 
 bluff, pointing at the vessel. All looked, and in 
 dogged silence beheld the vessel weigh anchor and 
 slowly sail up to a position under the protection of 
 the guns of the fort. 
 
 In futile rage the baffled warriors regarded one 
 another, at a loss what to do ; their plans of reprisal 
 had been defeated by this simple movement. 
 
 At this juncture Malee stepped forth, and in a 
 few imperative words assumed direction of affairs. 
 Whether recognizing her authority or the wisdom of 
 her advice, nobody gainsaid her. 
 
 Understanding not a word that was said about 
 him, Zach could only guess what was doing. From 
 the fact that runners were sent off in hot haste to 
 various points of the compass, he gathered that, 
 whatever their purpose, it was not to be carried out 
 without recruits and cooperation.
 
 306 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 Although he let it be known that his sympathies 
 were with them, Zach made no offer of service to 
 his red friends. He could take no part in any 
 hostile movement against his own countrymen. 
 This feeling seemed to be recognized by the Indi- 
 ans, for they did not consult him in their plans. 
 
 Inclined at first to attribute this delicacy on their 
 part to a hint from Malee, Zach presently altered his 
 mind. The girl seemed wholly unconscious of his 
 presence. When they met, she looked through him, 
 around him, past him, but never at him. Filled 
 with forebodings as to her father's fate, every fac- 
 ulty of her heart and soul seemed intent on com- 
 passing his deliverance. 
 
 In a moment, by this sharp stroke of experience, 
 she had been transformed from an unconsidered girl 
 to a tragedy queen. 
 
 Nor was this moral development wanting in im- 
 pressive physical signs. Quite unconsciously she 
 took on a largeness of gesture and grandness of 
 mien which Zach regarded with silent wonder. 
 
 Pending the return of their messengers, the night 
 was spent by the Indians about the council fire. 
 With the earliest dawn they broke camp, and under 
 cover of the woods moved along the shore to a 
 promontory directly over against the fort and within 
 easy range of its guns. Here everything which 
 took place within the works or on the vessel could 
 be seen. 
 
 They arrived as if by appointment to assist at a 
 spectacle. There was a movement on the ramparts 
 of the fort. Soon after sunrise some men appeared
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 307 
 
 bearing timbers, from which they proceeded to make 
 a rude structure whose purpose was not apparent, 
 the Indians with breathless interest marking every 
 blow of the hammer, which was seen to strike the 
 wood a full half minute before the sound of the im- 
 pact could be heard across the stream. At last the 
 thing was done. The workmen went away. There 
 was an interval of silence, during which 'the stage 
 was deserted. Then began the second act. A 
 group of men in uniform appeared. They looked 
 about and talked. One of them made a gesture 
 of command. Presently another group advanced. 
 The watchers uttered a cry of consternation. It 
 was a squad of soldiers escorting their chiefs. 
 
 The drama now moved swiftly on through its 
 third and final act. The officer in command made 
 another gesture The arms and legs of the prison- 
 ers were bound, a noose was thrown over their 
 necks, and with no more circumstance or ceremony 
 than would have sufficed a dog, they were swung 
 writhing and struggling aloft to the scaffold. 
 
 Deaf to the hoarse cry of rage and grief which 
 burst from her followers, the daughter of the 
 Prophet stood upon the edge of the bluff, with her 
 eyes fixed steadfastly upon this ghastly scene, 
 stood without word or movement, stood as if she 
 had been changed to stone. 
 
 After a space Zach, moved by compassion, ven- 
 tured to go to her. He was shocked by the change 
 wrought in her looks. The roundness of youth was 
 gone. The eyes were hollow ; the nose looked hawk- 
 like in its aquiline sharpness, while tense lines about
 
 308 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 the month gave an aspect of grimness to the lower 
 face. 
 
 Countrymen or no countrymen, Zach now blurted 
 out his opinion. 
 
 " 'T is murder they have done yonder, whoever 
 they be. A brutal murder it is. A crime against 
 mankind and against nations. Nothing can ever 
 wipe out the guilt of it! " 
 
 The girl gave no sign of having heard. 
 
 "I pity you, Malee. I pity you with all my 
 heart. I wish I could do something for you ! " 
 
 The words stuck in his throat. They seemed 
 empty and hollow, and mockingly inadequate. 
 Why did he waste his breath? The girl did not 
 heed him. He went closer to her, and gently 
 touched her arm. She turned mechanically. He 
 was appalled by her look of suffering. 
 
 "Remember," he faltered, hardly knowing what 
 he said, "remember I am your friend, and I will 
 stand by you! " 
 
 His words never reached her mind. She gave no 
 sign of having heard them as she turned her staring 
 eyes back upon those dangling bodies. 
 
 A sensible creeping of the flesh emphasized the 
 moment for after-remembrance, for, united with the 
 dumb, unformulated grief in the sufferer's face, the 
 beholder detected a look of deadly, blighting vindic- 
 tiveness. 
 
 Meantime, brute force held sway, and was not 
 to be stayed by a woman's heart-ache. The swift 
 march of events left no time to think of the past, to 
 plan for the future. It was only left to act in the
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 309 
 
 whirring present ; to choose a part and take it ; to 
 move in the van, or be overborne and trampled on 
 by the victorious feet of the invader. 
 
 Striking the keynote of his campaign by this act 
 of treachery and murder, the next day Jackson 
 was away on a forced march to the eastward, to fall 
 upon Bolecks and his confederates, and crush at 
 one blow the whole Indian power. 
 
 Upon the withdrawal of the American army, 
 Zach made an attempt to see Arbuthnot. As it was 
 not yet known upon what charge he was arrested, 
 the old Scotchman was not rigorously dealt with, 
 and accordingly, after a proper examination as to 
 motives, his clerk was admitted to see him. 
 
 Entering the cell, Zach found the trader reading 
 a battered copy of Burns's poems, which he always 
 carried in his pocket. Recognizing his visitor, he 
 quietly went on repeating aloud the concluding 
 stanza of the poem he was reading, 
 
 ' ' The best laid schemes o' mice and men 
 
 Gang aft a-gley ; 
 
 And leave us naught but grief and pain 
 For promised joy.' " 
 
 "Well!" exclaimed Zach, astonished at his em- 
 ployer's equanimity, and not knowing what else to 
 begin with. 
 
 "Aweel, lad." 
 
 "What are you doing here, sir?" 
 
 "Little or naething, as ye may see. But a body 
 could be doin' a waur thing than reading Bobby 
 Burns, God bless him ! He 's been a comforter to 
 me in mony a dark hour lang syne."
 
 310 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 "What right had they to take you?" 
 
 "Na, gae to them that knaw wi' yer riddles. 
 'Tis a short answer wad serve them. Muckle 
 might maks muckle right, I ween; 'tis the strang 
 arm settles the questions." 
 
 " If you had told them you were a British sub- 
 ject "- 
 
 " Hout toot ! 't is there lies a' the trouble ; an' I 
 had been ane o' the Yankees, they wad na hae pit 
 me intil a dungeon wi'out sae muckle as by yer 
 leave." 
 
 "But if you have done them no wrong " 
 
 "Ay, but I hae." 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "The same harm ilka puir little fule-lamb does 
 to the wolf, I hae commeeted the offense o' being 
 born." 
 
 "But," persisted Zach, now, as always, impatient 
 of humor, "when he comes back, when he hears the 
 facts, he must release you." 
 
 "Wha kens?" murmured the trader, resignedly. 
 "But enow o' me. Tell me noo how gaes it wi' ye 
 lads?" 
 
 "All well." 
 
 "Ye got yon letter o' mine? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Guid! I misdoubted the redskin. An' the 
 gear the peltry ? " 
 
 "All hid under ground, as you said." 
 
 " ; T is weel ; ye 're guid lads, and ye left a' 
 snug at the station? " 
 
 "The best we knew how."
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 311 
 
 "But where left ye the bit schooner? " 
 
 "At the mouth of the river, with Jock in charge." 
 
 "Jock in charge, Jock in charge, say ye? 'T is 
 as muckle as yer life 's worth to stay yonder anither 
 hour. Awa wi' ye, and pit oot to sea! The Yan- 
 kee cruisers are as thick as hornets all aboot." 
 
 "We heard of this business, and I came to see 
 what could be done." 
 
 " Dinna fash yer head aboot me! Think o' the 
 schooner, and the pretty cargo we hae ; gin onything 
 gaes wrang wi' ane or tither, wha 's to answer? " 
 
 " I '11 answer for everything, if I can only get you 
 out of this," answered Zach boldly. 
 
 "Ye can do naething, naethiiig, I say. I maun 
 bide my time. When yon law -breaking, blude- 
 thirsty ruffian has rin his course and finds he canna 
 pit finger on onything agin me, he '11 mayhap let me 
 gae free, but ye can do naething to help or hinder ; 
 sae gang yer gait back to the Chance ; I '11 do weel 
 enow by mysel'." 
 
 Zach took his leave, but chose otherwise to dis- 
 regard his orders. Having nothing to do, and no 
 acquaintance in the little Spanish town, he made his 
 way instinctively to the water-side. 
 
 There, seated on the grass beside a path which 
 led to the shore, he reflected upon the situation of 
 affairs, and upon the course he ought to pursue. 
 The outspread landscape before him lay like a pic- 
 ture, with its nice distribution of light and shade, 
 serene in effect, tranquilizing in its quietude, the 
 river shut in by densely- wooded shores, flowing with 
 ever-broadening current to its union with the sea;
 
 312 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 the vessels at anchor midstream, with their hulls 
 and rigging mirrored in the gleaming water, and all 
 flushed with yellow light from the setting sun. 
 
 As he gazed and pondered, he heard voices ap- 
 proaching, and was vaguely conscious of two men 
 going along the path on their way to the river. As 
 they passed the rock where he was seated, he per- 
 ceived that they were naval officers, and noted their 
 uniforms. 
 
 Following them with preoccupied eyes, he saw 
 them proceed to the shore, step aboard a dingy 
 which lay awaiting them at the landing, and push 
 out into the stream. Rowed by two stout tars, they 
 yet made but slow progress against the strong cur- 
 rent. 
 
 To add to the variety of the picture, a new fea- 
 ture was now introduced. Shooting suddenly out 
 from behind a wooded point appeared an Indian 
 canoe. Paddled by an expert hand it skimmed over 
 the water like a bird, seeming scarcely to touch its 
 surface. 
 
 Turning upstream on a parallel course with the 
 dingy, it steadily and swiftly overhauled that clumsy 
 craft. 
 
 Awaking from his preoccupation, Zach looked on 
 with interest and attention, a human element had 
 been added to the scene. It was a race of one 
 against four. But the race was not to be to the 
 swift. The victor suddenly threw away the laurel 
 already within reach. The Indian in the canoe, 
 when within fifty yards of the dingy, threw down 
 the paddles and rose to his feet with something in
 
 ZACIIAEY PHIPS. 313 
 
 his hands. Directly, there was a puff of smoke, a 
 sharp crack, and one of the officers in the boat fell 
 backward. 
 
 Zach sprang to his feet with a loud oath. 
 
 On board the dingy, the attention of all was at 
 first centred upon the dying officer, and no one 
 heeded the movements of the canoe. The occur- 
 rence, however, had been seen on board the gun- 
 boats, both of which turned their long guns on 
 the bold culprit. Their bolts fell wide of the tiny 
 mark. The Indian reached the shore in safety, and 
 vanished in the covert. 
 
 Zach sprang to his feet. He marked the spot and 
 measured the distance with his eye. It was on his 
 own side of the river, and not a half mile from 
 where he stood. Drawing a pistol from his belt, he 
 dashed through the woods with might and main in 
 the hope of cutting off the assassin's retreat. 
 
 His movement was more quickly successful than 
 he could have expected. Rushing on at headlong 
 pace, he heard a noise. It was repeated, it seemed 
 continuous. Was it going away from or coming 
 towards him ? Creeping forward like a panther, he 
 halted every other minute to listen. The sound 
 continued. It was clearer, and nearer at hand. 
 
 Reaching a little opening in the thicket, Zach 
 paused again to assure himself that he was not mis- 
 taken. No, there could no longer be any doubt; 
 the rustling of boughs, the snapping of dry twigs, 
 heralded the approach of a living creature. 
 
 Cocking his pistol, Zach stood upon his guard. 
 He had hardly placed himself, when, forth from the
 
 314 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 covert in panting haste rushed the breathless refugee, 
 it was Malee ! 
 
 Dressed in the garb of her tribe, with her long 
 hair floating like a dusky shadow upon her shoul- 
 ders, the eagle plume denoting her rank rising from 
 the circlet on her forehead, with her cheeks burning, 
 her eyes glowing with a look of exultation, in which 
 no touch of guilt or shame had place, her whole 
 personality produced an overpowering effect of hero- 
 ism before which her would-be captor faltered in his 
 intent. 
 
 But the girl's quick eye had noted his weapon. 
 Casting away her rifle, she spread wide her arms, 
 crying, 
 
 "Fire! Malee's work done. It not matter now. 
 He come to life no more, that one! He hang no 
 more Indian! Fire! White man's turn now. I 
 like it better from your hand than theirs. Sh-h! 
 Quick ! they come to rob you of the chance. Fire ! "
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 A TIMELY diversion saved the life of Malee and 
 drew Zach from an awkward predicament. No 
 makeshift incident of the story-teller was this, but 
 an historical event, more or less familiar to students 
 of the Seminole War. 
 
 Having cut to pieces and dispersed the motley 
 army of Indians and negroes under Bolecks and his 
 slave Nero at Suwanee, having burnt their town and 
 destroyed their stores, General Jackson, flushed 
 with victory, came marching back to St. Marks. 
 
 It was the flourish of trumpets announcing his 
 approach which awakened the whole neighborhood 
 to excitement. 
 
 Salutes from the fort and thundering salvos from 
 the gunboats heralded the advent of the hero, and 
 amid the universal blare all lesser questions were 
 lost sight of. 
 
 Returned, the winding up of the campaign was 
 a small matter for the conqueror. The Georgia 
 contingent and the Indian allies were already dis- 
 missed. Forts were rapidly building to secure the 
 conquered territory and hold in check the beaten 
 savages and humbled Spaniards. There remained 
 only the trivial business of disposing of his prison- 
 ers: to wit, the trader Arbuthnot, and one Am- 
 brister, captured on their march to the Suwanee.
 
 316 ZACIIARY PIIIPS. 
 
 Having established his camp four miles north of 
 St. Marks, General Jackson addressed himself to 
 the business. There being nothing important to 
 hinder, it was thought well to invest this closing 
 scene of the campaign with a show of procedure. 
 
 To the surprise, no doubt, of those familiar with 
 his executive impulses, the general ordered a court- 
 martial to inquire into the cases of the prisoners. 
 
 To Zach and young Arbuthnot this news brought 
 great relief. A court ! A trial ! The words were 
 synonymous with acquittal. The more thoroughly 
 the record of the trader was inquired into, the more 
 heinous must appear the indignity to which he had 
 been subjected. 
 
 The general, having put the matter into proper 
 hands for adjustment, busied himself at headquar- 
 ters preparing his dispatches for Washington, and 
 let justice take it course. 
 
 The day came, and with all due solemnity the 
 court opened, an impressive body, composed of 
 thirteen commissioned officers, presided over by a 
 major-general. 
 
 Zach, who had been summoned as a witness, 
 watched every step of the proceedings with closest 
 interest. 
 
 "Gaines, Gaines," he said, repeating to him- 
 self the name of the president, and reviving certain 
 vague impressions. Was not this the man con- 
 cerned in a certain affair at Fowltown which, de- 
 spite all the glozes of history, sentimental persons 
 still speak of as an infamy? 
 
 From the president his eye wandered with inquir-
 
 ZACHAEY PU1PS. 317 
 
 ing eagerness to the other members of the court, 
 officers returned from fighting the savages at Su- 
 wanee, and thus admirably fitted to sit in judgment 
 on all supposed aiders and abettors of the van- 
 quished foe. 
 
 Withal, Zach did not feel reassured from this 
 survey of the court. On the contrary, to tell truth, 
 he was filled with foolish apprehensions. His sole 
 crumb of comfort was the calm aspect of the pris- 
 oner. Familiar as he was with the trader's appear- 
 ance, he had never before noted it so critically. 
 The man's large, forceful head, rendered venerable 
 by its snow-white hair, his rugged features, his be- 
 nign yet shrewd expression and gravity of manner, 
 all combined to make him by far the most notable - 
 looking person in the room. 
 
 Zach paid closest *heed as the trial progressed. 
 The offenses of the prisoner were formulated under 
 several charges, the gist of which was, 
 
 a. That he had acted as a spy. 
 
 6. That he had incited the Indians to war against 
 the United States. 
 
 c. That he had supplied them with the means of 
 carrying it on. 
 
 Little used as he was to judicial proceedings, Zach 
 was nevertheless staggered by the evidence adduced 
 in support of these charges. 
 
 One witness was a nameless Indian, who swore 
 he had seen a letter which Arbuthnot had written 
 to the chief, Little Prince, a year and more before 
 (which letter could not be produced), inciting him to 
 war against the United States.
 
 318 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 Other witnesses were Hambly and Peter Cook. 
 A specially damning piece of evidence was the trad- 
 er's letter to his son, before cited, which was found 
 in the possession of one of Bolecks's chiefs taken 
 prisoner. 
 
 Ingenuous Jock, instead of being overwhelmed on 
 the production of this instrument, beamed with de- 
 light, supposing that nothing could so well show the 
 innocence of the letter as the letter itself. He was 
 yet to learn how plain talk could be perverted. 
 
 When the evidence was all in, the prisoner 
 summed up the case in his own behalf. With a 
 truly lawyer-like acumen, he applied himself directly 
 to the gravamen of the accusation, and with what 
 effect all the world may now judge, for his plea still 
 stands upon our records for all the world to read. 
 
 Dropping entirely his dea# Scotch dialect, and 
 speaking in well-chosen English, the old man thus 
 reviewed the case of the government : 
 
 "The only proof," adverting to the letter seen by 
 the Indian in Little Prince's hands, "that this hon- 
 orable court has of the existence of such a letter be- 
 ing in the hands of any person, or its contents being 
 known, is the vagrant memory of a vagrant individ- 
 ual. Make this a rule of evidence, and I ask you 
 where would implication, construction, and inven- 
 tion stop? Whose property, whose reputation, and 
 whose life would be safe ? Here I would beg leave 
 to mention a remark made by the president of this 
 court in the course of this investigation, which was 
 that, notwithstanding the letter was proved by the 
 witness to be in the possession of Little Prince,
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 319 
 
 this court could not notice that circumstance be- 
 cause there were no means by which it could be 
 obtained. I would ask the honorable court what 
 means they have adopted or what exertions they have 
 made to procure this letter?" 
 
 With equal force he discussed the evidence of 
 the letter addressed to his son. 
 
 "If the court please, this letter was written in 
 consequence of my property at Suwanee and the large 
 debts that were due me from Bowlegs and his peo- 
 ple. Nothing, I believe, of an inflammatory nature 
 can be found on reading the document, authorizing 
 the opinion that I was prompting the Indians to 
 war. On the contrary, if the honorable court will 
 examine the document, they will see that I wished 
 to lull their fears by informing them that it was the 
 negroes, and not the Indians, the Americans were 
 principally moving against. If the honorable court 
 please, I will make a few remarks upon the second 
 specification, and here close my defense. , 
 
 "In proof of this charge the court have before 
 them the evidence of Hambly, Cook, and sundry 
 letters purporting to be written by myself to differ- 
 ent individuals. May it please the court, what does 
 Cook prove ? Why, that I had ten kegs of powder 
 at Suwanee. Let me appeal to the experience of this 
 court, if they think this quantity of powder would 
 supply one thousand Indians and an equal number 
 of blacks more than two months for hunting? As 
 to the letters named in this specification, may it 
 please the court, the rules of evidence laid down in 
 the first part of this defense will apply with equal 
 force in the present case.
 
 320 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 "It remains now, may it please the court, to say 
 something as to Hambly's testimony; and may it 
 please this honorable court, the rule laid down in this 
 case as to hearsay evidence will be found without a 
 precedent. A strong case was stated by an intelli- 
 gent member of this court on the examination of 
 this part of the evidence ; that is, would you receive 
 as testimony what a third person had said, whom, if 
 present, you would reject as incompetent? Apply 
 this principle to the present case : could an unknown 
 Indian be examined on oath in our courts of judica- 
 ture? If then the testimony of savages is inadmis- 
 sible, Hambly proves nothing. 
 
 " Here, may it please this honorable court, I close 
 my reply to the charges and specifications preferred 
 against me, being fully persuaded that, should there 
 be cause for censure, my judges will, in the lan- 
 guage of the law, lean to the side of mercy." 
 
 This ended the trial, so far as it concerned Ar- 
 buthnot. Eagerly, anxiously, in the dead silence 
 which ensued after the prisoner had been remanded 
 to his cell, Zach scanned the faces of the court. 
 They looked troubled and thoughtf id. , Surely, they 
 must have been impressed by the trader's speech. 
 
 Firm in this conviction, Zach withdrew with the 
 other spectators, and left the court to its delibera- 
 tion. 
 
 Pending its decision, he received a message from 
 Arbuthnot begging to confer with him. The inter- 
 view was permitted with reluctance, and only upon 
 the urgent petitions of the prisoner. 
 
 On entering the little cell, Zach warmly congrat-
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 321 
 
 ulated its inmate upon his appearance at the trial 
 and his effective defense. 
 
 "I dinna ken, I dinna ken. I hae dune the best 
 I could, an' I maun e'en leave the rest to Him wha 
 rules the just and the unjust. But I 'm recht glad 
 o' a word wi' ye, lad, whilkever way thae yonder 
 may deceede the matter." 
 
 "They can only decide it in one way," broke in 
 Zach emphatically. 
 
 "Sae I hope, lad, sae I hope my ain sel', but a 
 plain tale gets sair twisted i' the tellin', an' the 
 rogues, Peter an' Hambly, are i' high favor wi' the 
 Yankee general. For a' that, I say again, whilk- 
 ever way it goes wi' me, 't is the pairt o' a wise mon 
 aye to hope for the best and prepare for the warst. 
 Sae whiles time and chance haud guid, I wad gie ye 
 a hint o' the deesposition to be made o' my affairs 
 gin the warst come to the verra warst." 
 
 Accustomed to his employer's caution and fore- 
 sight, Zach listened with patience to what he consid- 
 ered needless suggestions. 
 
 " Gin this matter gaes against me, as pray God 
 it may na do, lose ye nae time, lad, in finding oot 
 Jock, the puir bairn was wi' me here a minute 
 sin', but wad na hear a ward o' onythin' but that a' 
 will go weel wi' me, and I had na the heart to dis- 
 pute him, lose ye nae time, I say, in sarchin' him 
 oot an' giein' him my last wishes." 
 
 Zach nodded, with a look of good-natured indul- 
 gence of this moribund weakness. 
 
 "Tell him," pursued the trader earnestly, "na 
 to bide anither hour hereaboots, but get him awa as
 
 322 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 soon as may be wi' the Chance up the river, dig up 
 the skins an' the goods where ye hae hid them, 
 there '11 be some o' yer ain amang them, whilk I 
 trust to yer honor to share fairly wi' Jock as the 
 accounts may show." 
 
 "I '11 try and deal fairly with him," murmured 
 the listener. 
 
 "Mak what trade ye can wi' the redskins for the 
 chattels left ower, a bad bargain is better than to 
 tak 'em back hame. The savages maun be in sair 
 straits for a' things needfu' to support life sin' yon 
 roisterin' carle, God forgie me for judgin' ony- 
 body when He has said judgment is his ain! sin 
 yon man o' war has burnt an' ruined an' destroyed 
 a' their gear. For the rest, tell Jock frae this oot 
 to hae dune wi' this soort o' tradin' ! It has na been 
 wi'out some sma' profit i' times past an' gane, but 
 it is na what it was, and is like to be ower muckle a 
 risk in the future. Tell him to bide at hame in 
 Nassau, an' be content wi' sic sma' crumbs o' trade 
 as ane may pick up yonder. Gin he choose to re- 
 main idle for the rest o' his days, whilk God for- 
 bid ! he has enow and mair to keep the wolf frae 
 the door. But gang yer gait noo! I hae dime! 
 Gang yer gait, like a guid lad. Leave me to what 
 sma' rest I may get in sic a place. An' for this 
 maitter yonder, God's will be dune ! " 
 
 Promising faithfully to repeat these instructions 
 to Jock in case of need, Zach withdrew with a 
 parting word of comfort. 
 
 Thereupon, for want of other lodgings, he re- 
 paired to the schooner, which, although it had been
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 323 
 
 seized and was technically under arrest, was suf- 
 fered to remain in the custody of its own crew. 
 
 There, just before daybreak, he was awakened by 
 the announcement that an Indian had paddled out 
 in a canoe and demanded to see him. 
 
 With his eyes full of sleep, Zach groped his 
 way up on deck, and stood several minutes leaning 
 over the taffrail, before he could clearly make out 
 the messenger bobbing up and down in his little 
 craft. 
 
 "What do you want?" he asked impatiently. 
 
 The savage drew a small, round object from 
 beneath his blanket and held it up. By the gleam 
 of the stern light, Zach recognized the little hand- 
 mirror which he had given Malee. 
 
 "You come from her?" 
 
 The Indian nodded. 
 
 "What do you want?" 
 
 "Chiefs say, 'Old man, young man, they die.' ' 
 
 "The court say that?" 
 
 The messenger nodded again, and continued, 
 "To-day for them, to-morrow for you, all friends 
 of red man must die. You have ship, go while 
 can!" 
 
 Overwhelmed by the news, Zach stood for some 
 time incapable of speech or motion. Far from 
 heeding Malee's warning with regard to himself, he 
 bethought him only of some expedient whereby he 
 might yet save his employer's life. 
 
 There was no time to waste, nor was there any 
 choice of ways and means. One man alone could 
 intervene between the court and its sentence, and
 
 324 ZACIIARY PIUPS. 
 
 that was General Jackson. To appeal to him was, 
 therefore, the only alternative. 
 
 Rowing in haste to the shore, Zach seized the first 
 horse he met upon the street, and, despite the unin- 
 telligible threats and imprecations of its Spanish 
 owner, galloped off in the direction of the camp. 
 The gray light of coming day showed him the bridle 
 path. The leaves of the forest trees were glistening 
 with dew, and overhanging branches splashed his 
 feverish face with their cool drippings as he flew 
 along. The air was filled with the matins of the 
 song-birds and the fragrance of wild shrubs. 
 
 Insensible to all this charm of freshness and 
 sweetness, Zach rode on, deeply preoccupied. Doubts 
 and misgivings as to the result of his mission might 
 well beset him. He thought of all he had ever 
 heard of the redoubtable man to whom he was about 
 to appeal, the record was far from reassuring. 
 In his suspense, too, he was tormented by smaller 
 doubts; the way seemed endlessly long; he might 
 have gone astray. 
 
 This doubt was soon dispelled, for presently he 
 arrived at the spot and beheld not an encamp- 
 ment, but its remains! Where was the army? It 
 needed no ghost come from the grave to answer. 
 The ground was strewn with the unsightly evidence 
 of its late occupation. Far and near the place was 
 defiled by the obscene havoc of humanity. 
 
 Zach stopped aghast. Was he, then, too late? 
 There was something astir near by, in the forest. 
 Riding forward he came upon a group of men lei- 
 surely breaking camp. They were all officers,
 
 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 325 
 
 staff officers. His eye brightened. He had guessed 
 the truth : it was the general himself and his staff, 
 making ready to follow the slower movements of the 
 main body. 
 
 Riding straight towards the group, Zach answered 
 bluntly two or three officers who strove to intercept 
 him : 
 
 "I want to see General Jackson! " 
 
 "What is your business?" 
 
 "My business is with him." 
 
 "Let him come! " 
 
 In obedience to this authoritative tone, the officer 
 fell back, and Zach, advancing, found himself in the 
 presence of the commanding general. 
 
 A tall, spare figure, bareheaded, and in his shirt- 
 sleeves, sitting on a log writing dispatches, was 
 Zach's first impression of this famous man. 
 
 "Well, sir, what do you want?" was the sharp 
 demand, as, having finished a sentence, the writer 
 looked up and disclosed a long, lean face, a narrow, 
 forceful forehead, crowned with bristling iron-gray 
 hair, and lighted up by a pair of piercing aquiline 
 eyes. 
 
 Intent only upon his purpose, Zach took no note 
 of these small matters, but answered with directness, 
 
 "I come to ask a favor." 
 
 "Goon!" 
 
 "To ask you to do an act of justice." 
 
 "Out with it!" 
 
 "To show mercy to that innocent man they have 
 condemned yonder." 
 
 "Who is that?" with darkening brows.
 
 326 ZACHABY PIUPS. 
 
 "Alexander Arbuthnot! " 
 
 "That damned villain! " 
 
 "He is no villain," was the bold retort. 
 
 "Take care! " with kindling eyes. 
 
 "He is an injured, innocent man. I know him. 
 I know what I say. Those fools yonder have found 
 him guilty of stirring up the Indians to fight. He 
 did nothing of the sort ! " 
 
 "Eh!" 
 
 "Nothing," firmly. "He was forever bidding 
 them keep the peace " 
 
 "I have heard all these lies before." 
 
 "He cautioned, he warned, he held them back. 
 It was like holding back a lot of bloodhounds. But 
 for him there would have been continual scalpings 
 and bloodshed all along the border these years past." 
 
 "What proofs of this?" 
 
 "My oath!" 
 
 "And who are you? You may be another Brit- 
 ish spy ! " 
 
 "I am no more a British spy than you," cried 
 Zach, flaming up. "I am an American citizen. I 
 have fought and bled, too, for my country as well 
 as you. But I am a human being for all that, and 
 I will not stand by without a word and see an inno- 
 cent man hung like a dog! " 
 
 This bold protest had a momentary effect. The 
 general gazed with a passing respect upon the 
 speaker, as if inclined to heed him, but yielding 
 directly to the iron prejudice which ruled him, he 
 answered, 
 
 "'Tis none of my affair. The court has tried
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 327 
 
 him. They have heard witnesses. They have given 
 him a chance to speak. They find him guilty, and 
 condemn him to die, and die he shall, by the Eter- 
 nal!" 
 
 "Then it will be a murder! " 
 
 "You dare say that to me? " 
 
 "A murder, and on your head it will lie " 
 
 "Silence, or by G " 
 
 " A murder as foul and black as that the other 
 day you committed on those poor savages, the 
 Prophet Francis and Himollemico" 
 
 His face flaming with wrath, the outraged gen- 
 eral sprang to his feet, and seizing from the ground 
 beside him his unsheathed sword, advanced as if to 
 strike the offender to the ground. 
 
 The least sign of fear or flinching on Zach's part 
 would have been fatal. Instead of avoiding, how- 
 ever, he seemed to court the impending blow. Ad- 
 vancing a step towards his assailant, he met the 
 glance of the furious old man with an unblenched 
 face and an eye as unquailing as his own. 
 
 "Strike!" he cried; "strike, I say! Prove that 
 you are a bully and a coward as well as a mur- 
 derer I " 
 
 Beside himself with rage, Jackson threw down 
 his sword and, seizing the taunting youth in his big 
 bony hands, he was about to wreak on him his fury, 
 when, as if charmed in spite of himself by the un- 
 daunted look of his victim, he muttered, 
 
 "A Britisher and a liar could n't look like that;" 
 concluding presently, " clear away out of this, and 
 thank your stars I didn't kill ye."
 
 328 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 "I '11 not budge a step till you give me that man's 
 pardon." 
 
 Fairly taken aback by the audacity of his visitor, 
 which stirred at once his wonder and admiration, 
 the general answered in a modified tone, 
 
 " 'T is no business of mine to interfere. The 
 court has tried and sentenced the man I '11 not 
 intermeddle." 
 
 " 'T is you that do it 't is you alone ; you cannot 
 shirk the responsibility; the guilt will be on yovir 
 head." 
 
 "The court has found him guilty," persisted the 
 general, but with a show of weakening. 
 
 "A court made up of his enemies." 
 
 "No matter for that; they were honest, fair- 
 minded men. They had witnesses" 
 
 "What kind of witnesses! One his rival and 
 mortal enemy; the other a rogue of a discharged 
 clerk." 
 
 "They had his own letters." 
 
 "Why, then, didn't they produce them?" 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "They showed but one; and that proved clear as 
 day that he was innocent." 
 
 "Who says this?" 
 
 "I say it; and I dare you to read the letter for 
 yourself and say otherwise." 
 
 " If they had not all the letters, they had them 
 who had seen them." 
 
 "Is this evidence to hang a man? Shame! 
 Shame! It should not hang a dog. Stop this crime ! 
 Stay their hands while it is time. Do not let
 
 ZACHAJtY PHIPS. 329 
 
 this murder go on ! Send this man back to prison, 
 and I will pledge my life to prove to you his 
 innocence." 
 
 Impressed by the earnestness, force, and fearless- 
 ness of the petitioner, the general walked apart, and 
 strode up and down in silence. The members of his 
 staff looked in wondering amazement that Zach had 
 not been knocked down at the outset. 
 
 "Here, there," shouted the veteran after a little, 
 "give me pen and ink. I may be a fool, but I will 
 inquire into this." 
 
 Seating himself again on the log, he took a piece 
 of paper from one of his aides, and began to write. 
 
 "As for you, young man," he said, addressing 
 Zach, as he scribbled away, "you shall stay here as 
 security for these fine promises you have made." 
 
 Such was the revulsion of feeling caused by this 
 sudden prospect of success in his undertaking, that 
 Zach choked over the thanks which he could not 
 articulate. 
 
 "There," cried Jackson, extending a scrap of 
 paper to one of his aides, "take the best horse in 
 camp and carry that to Major Fanning, and don't 
 let the grass grow under your feet." 
 
 As the aide took the paper and turned to go, a 
 trampling of horses' hoofs was heard close at hand, 
 and directly several men in uniform emerged from 
 the forest. 
 
 "Eh, Fanning, is that you? " 
 
 "Ay, sir," with a military salute. 
 
 "What are you doing here? " 
 
 "I came to report."
 
 330 ZACHABT PHIPS. 
 
 "I gave you orders to attend to that business at 
 the fort." 
 
 "That is all attended to, sir." 
 
 "You mean" began the general, turning per- 
 ceptibly pale. 
 
 "I mean the executions." 
 
 "What!" 
 
 "They took place an hour ago." 
 
 "By the Eternal!"
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 MAKING a gibbet for the venerable martyr upon 
 his own schooner was quite in keeping with the rest 
 of the business. The ghastly spectacle awaited 
 Zach on his return to St. Marks. 
 
 With a grim look he took note of it ; with a grim 
 look he went about the duties which lay before him. 
 It was no time for words or tears or futile rage. 
 It was for him to hunt up Jock, the poor boy had 
 fled horror-stricken to the woods. It was for him to 
 secure a decent burial for his friend, and to carry 
 out to the letter those parting injunctions heard in 
 the prison cell. 
 
 It was from the garrulous mate he heard the un- 
 welcome details, heard that there was seen at least 
 one mourner in deep affliction at the morning's 
 tragedy. 
 
 "A queer customer she was, too," concluded the 
 man, wagging his head. 
 
 "A woman?" 
 
 "Yeah, an' dressed up in London clothes, with a 
 bonnet, and a long veil over her face. I did n't take 
 no notice of her at first, but when the officer give the 
 word, an' they strung the old man up, she clutched 
 a rifle from a soldier, an' it took two or three of 
 'em to git it away from her, an' when they did, she 
 rushed down to the shore, jumped into a canoe, and 
 paddled across the river."
 
 332 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 " Poor girl !" muttered Zach, "it was a reckless 
 thing to show herself here ! " 
 
 "You know her, boss?" 
 
 "Humph, no yes that is to say, perhaps." 
 
 Zach made all imaginable haste in getting clear 
 of St. Marks. Much to his surprise the authorities 
 discharged the schooner from arrest, and she was 
 suffered to sail away with cargo intact. Jock, in- 
 capable of thought or action, depended like a child 
 upon his friend, who, following the trader's direc- 
 tions, proceeded directly to Suwanee, to recover 
 what they might of their belongings. As before, 
 they had a tedious passage up the river. Once 
 under way, Zach left the conduct of the vessel to 
 Jock and the mate. He showed himself at once 
 agitated and preoccupied. He walked the deck 
 for an entire night, wrestling with some mental 
 problem. After these hours of thought he took to 
 writing. By sheer effort of will he held himself 
 down to the uncongenial task. He worked like a 
 blacksmith. In the end he tore up what he had 
 written and began all over again. Thus the voyage 
 passed in grinding toil, and after all, he had nothing 
 to show for it but the mass of white paper scraps 
 with which he showered the surface of the river. 
 
 Arrived at the site of the Indian town, they found 
 a scene of desolation. Scarcely a vestige remained 
 of a flourishing community. And the people, the 
 remnant of Bolecks's followers, the old men, the 
 women and children, what had become of them ? 
 The night hawk that whistled and the screech-owl 
 which hooted about their forsaken hearthstones
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 333 
 
 could not tell ; there was no voice in all the forest to 
 answer. 
 
 The trading-station had been included in the rav- 
 age, and the spot was now marked only by a heap 
 of blackened ruins. 
 
 Here, close under the steep bank, the schooner 
 was anchored on the night of their arrival. Next 
 day the hiding-places across the river where they 
 had buried their treasure were visited, and the con- 
 tents found intact. Carefully and speedily the rich 
 hoard of skins and merchandise was removed on 
 board the schooner. It was the work of forty -eight 
 hours, more or less. The rest of the crew, making 
 a holiday of the last afternoon, shouldered their 
 rifles and went off in search of game to replenish 
 the ship's larder, leaving Zach behind on guard. 
 
 Alone, he betook himself again to his writing. 
 All the long summer afternoon he scribbled and 
 scratched away at his mysterious task, taking no 
 note of the herald-sounds of coming night : the shrill 
 song of the hyla along the river bank, the vesper 
 chirping of the wild birds, and all the countless 
 voices of the woods. 
 
 Insensible to all distraction, he clung to his ab- 
 sorbing task until forced to stop by the waning light. 
 Then, getting up, he stretched his arms, rubbed the 
 cramp out of his hands, and lighted his pipe. 
 
 Presently, for a bit of exercise, he climbed the 
 bank and wandered about the ruins of the trading- 
 station. Presently, hearing a light sound behind, 
 he turned. There, at the distance of a few yards, 
 he could scarcely believe his eyes, stood Malee !
 
 334 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 She made no move to approach or speak, on being 
 discovered, but stood silently regarding him. 
 
 Although she had lost something of her girlish 
 roundness of outline so perfect a few months before, 
 although the free, joyous confidence of those happy 
 days had given place to a wan, despairing look, he 
 never before so fully realized that, aside from all 
 questions of age or race, she was a beautiful woman. 
 There was now, moreover, a pathetic interest attach- 
 ing to her, quite in keeping with the hour and place. 
 
 "Malee, I am glad to see you," he said, advan- 
 cing with frank cordiality. "I have been thinking 
 of you, and wondering how everything was going 
 with you these troublous times." 
 
 The light grew tender in the girl's eyes ; her face 
 took on a look of mute delight like that shown by a 
 dog when caressed by his master, and a flickering 
 smile for a moment played about her lips. 
 
 "Malee no friends now; all friends gone. Every- 
 thing gone." 
 
 "No, no," answered Zach, with a sturdy attempt 
 at cheerfulness, "not so bad as that. You 've had 
 a hard time lately, I know ; we have all had a hard 
 time, but we must wait and hope for better days." 
 
 Malee stood unresponsive, with downcast eyes. 
 
 "It was bad work they did here, there was bad 
 work done over yonder. It will make loud talk 
 when that war-chief goes home." 
 
 "Talk ! " 
 
 Zach winced at the tone and the sight of the girl's 
 curling lip. 
 
 "Will it be so loud to call them back, him,
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 335 
 
 and him? " indicating by appropriate gestures her 
 father and Arbuthnot. 
 
 "No, they can't give back the dead, and they 
 can never wash out the black guilt of their murder ! 
 Never !" repeated Zach, sternly. "It will remain 
 forever a foul blot on the fame of my country ! " 
 
 Malee did not speak, but stood with half -closed 
 eyes watching the dying glow of the sunset glinting 
 through the leaves. 
 
 "Wait, Malee, wait, my poor girl! You have 
 friends among your father's people. You have 
 slaves and cattle and lands." 
 
 "No, no, no; all gone, people run away, cattle 
 killed, slaves gone. All gone, empty here. No- 
 thing but the voice come back when call." 
 
 "Yes, everything looks pretty black now. The 
 echoes are pretty loud ; but by and by, by and by, 
 all will be as it used to be." 
 
 "You build up again wigwam here? " she asked, 
 with a sudden shrewd look. 
 
 "No; he left a talk for his son to quit this coun- 
 try and go home." 
 
 Malee nodded. 
 
 " But other men will come, red men and white 
 men, and build a new and better trading-place." 
 
 The girl meditated several moments before speak- 
 ing. 
 
 "Old man with snow-head wise. He say to son, 
 'Go away! ' Nobody comes here again. The wild 
 fox and eagle shall have these hunting-grounds of 
 Bolecks and Ilillishajo." 
 
 "Never fear," broke in Zach, bitterly, and for-
 
 336 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 getful, as it seemed, of his purpose of comforting 
 the bereaved girl. "Never fear, it will not be left 
 long to beasts and birds. The white robber will 
 come soon enough, and seize upon it, cut down the 
 trees, drive out the wild fox and eagle as he has 
 driven out the Indian ; bring his cattle and swine, 
 build his huts, and leave all as an honest inheritance 
 to his children. The white men, my countrymen, 
 will do this!" 
 
 "And the Great Spirit look down and see? " 
 
 "The Great Spirit shuts his eyes to a good deal 
 that happens down here." 
 
 The girl nodded, with a look half resigned, half 
 cynical, but made no remark. 
 
 "But," continued Zach, after a prolonged silence, 
 during which he had explored the whole situation 
 for some safe ground of solace, "your father has 
 many friends in England. They loaded him with 
 gifts and honors when he was there. If, now, they 
 knew of the misfortune of his daughter Why 
 not write to them? Why not go to them?" 
 
 "'T is long way. Out of sight; out beyond sun. 
 I no see. I no send my voice so far. Those good 
 men hear not my cry! " 
 
 " Go to them, then ! All white men are not like 
 these who have been here. There are white men 
 who know how to tell the truth ; who will not bully 
 the weak; who will not strike a man when he is 
 down; who will not steal their neighbor's goods. 
 You have never seen this kind of white man." 
 
 "Yes, kef" pointing towards the ruins, "and 
 you."
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 337 
 
 "I! " Zach blushed at the direct and unexpected 
 tribute. "I don't pretend to much goodness, but 
 I don't lie if I can help it, and I don't steal or 
 assassinate. But " 
 
 He was interrupted by a hallooing far off in the 
 forest. Malee started like a deer. 
 
 "'Tis only my friends coming home," he said 
 quietly, pointing towards the schooner. "They 
 have been shooting." 
 
 Following the direction of his finger, Malee 
 seemed to note the schooner for the first time. 
 Studying it attentively for several moments, she 
 suddenly turned to him and asked, 
 
 "You go way?" 
 
 "Yes, very soon." 
 
 "Come back no more?" 
 
 "Never." 
 
 There was a swallowing movement in the girl's 
 throat, and the mute, despairing appeal in her eyes 
 was heart-moving. 
 
 Very obtuse in the matter of facial signs, Zach 
 could not help remarking the changed expression. 
 
 "Yes, Malee," he said, taking her hand, "I must 
 bid you good-by. There is nothing to hold me here. 
 There is nothing, God knows, to bring me back. 
 But I shall not forget* you.. I shall never forget 
 that you saved my life, perhaps more than once. 
 If you are ever in trouble, send to me, and I will 
 do my utmost to help you. The best thing you 
 can do now is to follow your tribe, and join your 
 friends, and when your grief wears itself out, you 
 will be happy again. So once more, good-by. I
 
 338 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 hope we shall meet again in happier days for both 
 of us." 
 
 The girl tried to speak, but words would not 
 come. Her eyes fell before Zach's direct, earnest 
 gaze, and her hand trembled in his clasp. 
 
 The voices of the returning hunters recalled her 
 to herself. With a sudden movement she carried 
 his hand to her forehead, held it for a moment 
 pressed there, and then, without a word or a mur- 
 mur, fled away into the recesses of the forest. 
 
 Zach made a movement as if to recall her, but 
 restrained, perhaps, by the approach of his compan- 
 ions, turned back towards the schooner. 
 
 Early next morning they were off. On the way 
 Zach busied himself again with his writing, and 
 stuck to it so persistently that before they arrived 
 at the Gulf he had finished his task. 
 
 Thereupon, calling Jock into the cabin, he showed 
 him the result. 
 
 It was a memorial to President Monroe upon the 
 Seminole War, setting forth with force and unflinch- 
 ing directness the facts and results of that memo- 
 rable campaign. The recital was reinforced by 
 divers historical allusions and citations of interna- 
 tional law, which were lost upon the attentive lis- 
 tener. . t 
 
 "How are you going to send it?" asked Jock, 
 almost breathless at such audacity. 
 
 "I shall find a way," was the confident answer. 
 
 "Will it do any good?" 
 
 "It will tell them the plain truth, and the whole 
 truth, which they are not like to get from any other
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 339 
 
 source. The consequences then be on their own 
 heads! I have done all that I can do." 
 
 Lost in wonder and admiration, Jock sat by and 
 watched his companion fold and seal the precious 
 instrument. Their further talk was interrupted 
 by a call from the deck. 
 
 Going up, they found the mate trying to signal 
 an Indian on shore. The savage stood upon a 
 wooded headland which marks the river bank, and 
 either did not see or would not heed them. 
 
 The mate, anxious to question the man upon the 
 state of things in and around the Gulf to which they 
 were hastening, persisted in his signals. At last 
 the savage saw and answered. The Chance ran in 
 towards the shore to find anchorage. Zach, seized 
 with a sudden purpose, rushed down again to his 
 writing table and scratched off a hasty note to 
 Malee : 
 
 DEAR FRIEND, I have found a messenger, and 
 I send you a last word. It is only to say again 
 that I think of you, and that if I can ever help you 
 I will. You can write. You can send me a letter 
 to Nassau. If I am gone, it will come after me. 
 
 Good-by again, Malee. Heed my words and put 
 aside your grief! Follow after your father's people! 
 It is not good to live alone. I hope you will have 
 no more trouble. You have had enough. I hope 
 you will have a peaceful and happy life. Remem- 
 ber always that I am your friend. 
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS.
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 ARRIVED at the Gulf, the two young traders be- 
 thought them what to do. Mindful of Arbuthnot's 
 advice to look first for a market for their goods, 
 they ran across to Pensacola. 
 
 Here Jock speedily came to the fore. He showed 
 himself possessed of all his father's shrewdness and 
 tact in trading. In fact, it was at once evident that 
 he was not only born to the business, but so clearly 
 superior to his companion in this respect that Zach, 
 recognizing his own incompetence, stood by staring 
 helplessly at his junior's masterful management. 
 
 In the end he took the better part of leaving the 
 whole business in Jock's hands, and so, having of a 
 morning rendered what help he could in a super- 
 numerary way, he thrust his hands in his pockets 
 and went whistling off along the docks. 
 
 It was when upon one of these lounging expedi- 
 tions among the shipping that his attention was one 
 day drawn to a quarrel going on amongst a group 
 of sailors. The matter presently came to blows, 
 and was fast developing into a serious affray, when 
 it was effectually settled by a brawny peace-maker 
 who, thrusting himself between the fiercest of the 
 disputants, forced them apart. 
 
 The action of the mediator awoke certain remi- 
 niscences in the idle looker-on. He studied the man
 
 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 341 
 
 attentively. A look of recognition suddenly shone 
 in his face, and, lounging carelessly up to the stran- 
 ger, he spoke to him. 
 
 "Goin' to be a storm?" 
 
 "Reckon not." 
 
 "You 're a sailor?" 
 
 "Yeah," with a casual glance at the questioner. 
 
 "Belong to one of these vessels? " 
 
 "Thet schooner yender!" with a wave of his 
 pipe. 
 
 "From New Orleans?" 
 
 "Yeah." 
 
 "Followed the sea a good many years?" 
 
 "Pooty much all my life." 
 
 "Rather different down here from Kennebunk- 
 port." 
 
 The sailor studied the inquisitive stranger askance 
 before .answering. 
 
 "I s'pose it's my Down-East twang makes ye 
 guess I 'm from Maine." 
 
 " Perhaps ; but you have had some river experi- 
 ence, too! " 
 
 "How so?" 
 
 "On the Mississippi." 
 
 "Eh? You don't mean to say you was in that 
 Washita business? " The sailor regarded his ques- 
 tioner more narrowly. "I don't seem to remember 
 you." 
 
 "And then Lake Pontchartrain." 
 
 The man looked hopelessly puzzled as he mut- 
 tered, "Yeah, out there to Falconer's. But who be 
 you, stranger, anyway?"
 
 342 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 "What ever became of the boy you had with 
 you?" 
 
 "Wall, now, mister, whoever ye be, ef ye 'd tell 
 me thet, ye 'd be doin' me the tallest kind of a 
 favor." 
 
 "You have lost track of him, then? " 
 
 "I'm drefful 'fraid I hev. Ye see, 'twas like 
 this : I take it you 're a friend o' his'n, an' I '11 jest 
 wall, the fact o' the matter is, I hed n't no busi- 
 ness to 'a' gone off the way I did. But, ye see, 
 't was all-fired slow business for me, foolin' round 
 in thet pond in a sailboat. I stood it jest as long 
 as I could, an' then I swung loose. Bub wanted to 
 go, but I told him he 'd better hold hard to his an- 
 chor till I turned up agin. He kind o' seemed to 
 agree. But when, after a spell, I got round 'there 
 agin, he 'd jest cut stick, an' I didn't blame him, 
 nuther." 
 
 "He ran away, then?" 
 
 "Wall, I s'pose so, 'n' I was cut up pooty bad, 
 for I 'd got mighty fond o' Bub in my way, an' he 
 was as likely a little cuss as ever I see." 
 
 "Then you don't know what became of him?" 
 
 "Wall, no, I don't. I heerd say he went into 
 the war, 'n' I shouldn't wonder 'f he did, for he 
 was allers chock full o' fight." 
 
 "How old would he be by this time, if he was 
 alive?" 
 
 "Man's size, I s'pose, though I can't seem to 
 think on him 'cept as a little shaver." 
 
 "Should you know him again? " 
 
 "The minit I sot eyes on him."
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 343 
 
 "He must have changed a good deal in all this 
 time." 
 
 "Yeah, but ther 's most allers sunthin' thet don't 
 change. Oh, I should know him fast enough." 
 
 "Any mark about him to swear by? " 
 
 "Wall, he hed, but I shouldn't need no mark to 
 make him out." 
 
 "What kind of a mark did he have? " 
 
 "One ther wasn't no danger o' his losin' : I tat- 
 tooed the stars an' stripes on one o' his arms jest to 
 please him one day, an' ' 
 
 "Was it anything like this?" and the questioner 
 pulled up his sleeve. 
 
 " God A'mighty ! you Bub ! ye don't mean 
 it ! ye don't mean it ! " 
 
 Staring with might and main, the sailor got up 
 and, taking off Zach's hat, stood back and gazed at 
 him with wonder and delight. 
 
 "Wall, I swear! 'T ain't possible. I'm losin' 
 my faculties. The idee o' your talkin' to me all 
 this time, an' I not knowin'." 
 
 "But you know me now, eh? " cried Zach, clasp- 
 ing the horny hand in his own. 
 
 "Know ye ! I dunno. I won't swear to any thin' 
 no longer. Gorry, it beats every thin' all holler, 
 the way ye hev changed ! " 
 
 "How so?" 
 
 "Wall, I dunno. I dunno as I can describe it. 
 It 's a kind o' eddicated look." 
 
 "I hope that hasn't spoiled me." 
 
 "No, no-o," repeated Sandy reflectively, "you 've 
 turned out a good deal harnsomer man 'n' I ever
 
 344 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 thought ye 'd be. Ye war n't no great to look at 
 when ye was a little shaver." 
 
 Zach laughed. 
 
 "But where ye ben, an' what ye ben doin' of? 
 Ye ain't follerin' the sea no longer, I reckon?" 
 
 Zach good-naturedly told his story, which was 
 listened to with open-mouthed interest. When he 
 came to describe the visit to Boston, to his great 
 surprise, Sandy suddenly jumped up and strode off 
 towards the schooner without a word. 
 
 After an absence of fully five minutes, he came 
 back muttering, 
 
 "I sh'd never 'a' thought of it aginef you hedii't 
 happened to say 'Boston.' I 've hed it quite a spell 
 now, an' tucked it away under my things so 't 
 shouldn't git lost, an' jest forgot all about it. 
 Wall, never mind, ther 's no harm done. Here ye 
 be, at last, an' here 't is for ye to read! " 
 
 Saying these words he handed Zach an old and 
 somewhat crumpled newspaper, and pointed with 
 his bronzed forefinger to the following passage : 
 
 "Information is wanted of the whereabouts of 
 Zachary Phips, son of Obadiah Phips, late of this 
 town and commonwealth, deceased. When last 
 heard from, he had enlisted on board the United 
 States frigate Chesapeake, and it is supposed he was 
 among the survivors of her crew taken by the Shan- 
 non to Halifax. Communicate with Mrs. Obadiah 
 Phips, Boston, Mass." 
 
 Although this sudden news of his father's death 
 was a shock to Zach, it was not accompanied by 
 any deep feeling of grief, or sense of personal be-
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 345 
 
 reavement. His father had never been a companion 
 to him ; he had hardly seemed a friend. Thus the 
 only permanent effect of the announcement was a 
 vague feeling of loneliness attendant upon the 
 thought that the only human being who had cared 
 for hini in the place of his birth was gone. 
 
 He remained silent for several minutes after read- 
 ing the item, grinding his boot-heel into the moist 
 sand and trying to realize the effect of the affliction 
 on the family in Salutation Alley. Presently he 
 picked up the newspaper, looked at the date, and 
 slowly read the passage again. 
 
 "I suppose it 's on account of the property," he 
 said at last, falling unconsciously into his old confi- 
 dential tone with Sandy. 
 
 "Was he wuth consid'ble?" asked Sandy, with 
 the New England instinct. 
 
 "No, oh, no-o; nothing to speak of. Yet," he 
 concluded, with a little hardening of the eye and 
 compression of the lips, "whatever he did leave, I 
 s'pose I 've a right to my share." 
 
 "Yes; an' yer step-inarm can't divide things up 
 tell they know what 's become of ye, thet 's whar 
 the shoe pinches; 't was her put that in." 
 
 "1 suppose so." 
 
 "She won't die o' disapp'intment, Bub, ef ye 
 don't turn up at all." 
 
 "Why should I disappoint her by turnin' up? 
 Let her keep what there is ! There '11 be hardly a 
 bite apiece for her and her chicks.'* 
 
 "Wall, now, Bub, look here! " said Sandy, cutting 
 up a charge for his pipe and assuming his old part
 
 346 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 of mentor, "thet 's all pooty talk enough, but don't 
 you never do nothin' in the dark ! Find out what 
 ye got, 'fore ye go givin' on 't away ! " 
 
 "You're wasting sound wisdom on this case, 
 skipper; there's nothing in it worth talking or 
 thinking of, I assure you." 
 
 "Ye dunno, ye dunno nothin' 'bout it. Mebbe 
 the old man hed laid up a little sunthin', an' ef he 
 has, take my advice an' hang on to your share on 't. 
 For it 's ben my experience," continued Sandy, 
 lighting his well-packed pipe, "that a little penny 
 extry comes in mighty handy now an' then, an' 
 nobody knows the day when he 's agoin' to get ship- 
 wrecked or cast away; an' the' ain't no better friend 
 in sech a case than a wad in yer stockin' heel." 
 
 "Guess you're 'bout right, skipper," said Zach 
 absently. 
 
 "Wall, I be, Bub, ef I do say it. It 's all wall 
 enough to lean on the Lord an' yer neighbors when 
 ye ain't got no other backboard, but for gittin' out 
 of a real scrape, giv' me a han'fid of hard dollars ! 
 So, my advice to you is, git up there an' see how 
 things be; the old man may 'a' made a will." 
 
 Zach listened to this advice all the more readily 
 that it jibed so completely with certain of his own 
 recent theories. Taking a suggestion from the skip- 
 per's words, he went on making out a mental bal- 
 ance sheet of his belongings, and became not a little 
 interested and excited at the probable sum total. 
 First, there was his share of the peltry due him from 
 Arbuthnot's estate on account of wages. Next the 
 money he had given his father to invest, which he
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 347 
 
 had well-nigli forgotten. Then there was prize- 
 money still due him from the Government on ac- 
 count of the vessel which Burr had libeled. And 
 lastly, here was this windfall of a few dollars from 
 his father. 
 
 The array of items was impressive, and he already 
 felt a stirring of greed within him, a new sensa- 
 tion. 
 
 While absorbed in these exciting calculations he 
 was conscious that Sandy had been talking, and now 
 tardily awoke to the fact that the skipper had been 
 giving him an account of his experiences since they 
 parted. 
 
 "And so you are still before the mast? " broke in 
 Zach at last, with a show of interest. 
 
 "Not jest exactly." 
 
 "You are mate, then? " 
 
 "I used ter be." 
 
 "What! you don't mean to say that you're a 
 captain ? " cried Zach incredulously. 
 
 "Wall, why not?" asked Sandy, with a shame- 
 faced look. 
 
 "Nothing a of course, only I " 
 
 "Only ye didn't ever 'spect I'd turn out any- 
 thin'. Wall, Bub, nuther did I; but ye see, I bed 
 a streak o' luck durin' the war. I got out the fust 
 big load o' cotton that sailed out er Noo Orleans 
 arter the proclamation, 'n' I made a little heap 
 out on 't. Then a fit took me. I know'd ther 
 wouldn't be a continental cent o' that money left 
 inside a fortnit ef 't stayed in my britches, an' 't 
 jest happened so 't haaf this schooner was for sale,
 
 348 ZACHARY P1IIPS. 
 
 an' I up an' bought it, an' oh, wall, 't ain't 
 nothin' ter speak of, anyway. I " 
 
 "So," interrupted Zach, in unmeasured astonish- 
 ment, "you're not only a skipper but a ship-owner 
 to boot? " 
 
 "Wall, ' ye like ter put it thet way," said Sandy, 
 scratching his head awkwardly for by -play, "I 
 s'pose I be." 
 
 Zach was suddenly seized with an idea. 
 
 "You can go where you like, then?" 
 
 "I don't see nothin' ter hender." 
 
 "And when you like? " 
 
 "Ginerally speakin'." 
 
 "At present you are going back to New Or- 
 leans?" 
 
 "Soon ez I git loaded." 
 
 " I '11 go with you." 
 
 "The devil ye will! Wall, now, thet '11 be I 
 vum, thet '11 seem kind o' like old times ! " 
 
 "I can take along my skins," continued Zach, 
 talking, as it seemed, to himself, "and ship them 
 to London as well from New Orleans as from Nas- 
 sau, and, in fact, much better. I have nothing to 
 take me back there, why should I go?" He con- 
 tinued his speculations mentally, as he paced up and 
 down among the litter of freight on the dock. 
 
 "Wall, wall, wall, "continued Sandy, still revolv- 
 ing the good news. "Who'd 'a' thought! The 
 idee o' findin' of ye here, when I ben on the look- 
 out all these years, an' hed jest about gin it up as 
 a bad bargain! " 
 
 Zach, still busy with his private speculations, did 
 not answer.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 349 
 
 "Shouldn't wonder ef we could git off to-mor- 
 rer, the way things look now," continued Sandy, 
 with a glance over at the schooner. "When can 
 ye come aboard?" 
 
 "Humph, I don't know. I'm afraid I was a 
 little hasty about that. I didn't think what I was 
 saying. It begins to look as if I should have to go 
 to Nassau after all." 
 
 The skipper's face fell, and he did not speak for 
 several minutes. 
 
 "Wall, now, Bub," he began presently, with a 
 look of dejection, "I kind o' wish I hedn't met ye; 
 it 's my luck all over. I might 'a' know'd what to 
 expect. I went on like a fool an' got things all 
 planned out. But this ere knocks the bottom right 
 out o' everythin' ! " 
 
 "Eh? How is that?" asked Zach, awaking to 
 his friend's disappointment. 
 
 " Why, ye 'd got this ere business in Boston to 
 'tend to, an' there's no two ways about it, you'd 
 oughter go; an' I thought as I 'd jest agreed with 
 that Frenchman " 
 
 "Monsieur?" 
 
 "The little lawyer 't used ter come out to the 
 lake. Wall, seem' as I 'd kind o' agreed to take 
 him up ter the Chesapeake when he goes to Wash- 
 ington" 
 
 " Eh ? He is going to Washington ? ' ' 
 
 "Yeah, on this business o' Falconer's." 
 
 "What business?" with awakening interest. 
 
 "'Bout the damage done ter the plantation. 
 'Twas pooty d d nigh spilt, thet prop'ty I
 
 350 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 never see sech a sight. Wall, the little lawyer he 's 
 ben at it two or three years 'thout doin' much. 
 Now he 's startin' in agin, sence Falconer was here." 
 
 "When was that?" was the eager question. 
 
 "Two or three months ago, I sh'd think; I don't 
 jest remember. But they didn't stay long. It 
 made 'em kind o' homesick, I guess, so he 'n' the 
 little gal went off ter London an' left " 
 
 " Sylvia, was she here ? " 
 
 "Yeah, she was; an' she's grow'd to look harn- 
 some as a picter, jest like " 
 
 "How do you know they went to London?" in- 
 terrupted the listener again. 
 
 "It must 'a' ben the lawyer 't told me, 'n' he 
 said he reckoned they 'd gone for good this time. 
 Ye see I got pooty wall acquainted with the Square, 
 'cause he draw'd the docyments fer me when I 
 bought the schooner." 
 
 "Sandy," said Zach, suddenly stopping in his 
 walk, "I 've changed my mind again." 
 
 "Ye don't say!" 
 
 "I 've concluded to go with you, after all." 
 
 "Hooray. Wall, a weather-cock 's a fool to you, 
 Bub, for gittin' round; but ye 're pintin' in the 
 right direction this time, an' it means fair weather, 
 an' no squalls, or I 'm mistaken." 
 
 "And now," said Zach, making a move to go, "I 
 will be with you again as soon as possible. I have 
 to settle up affairs with young Mr. Arbuthnot ; but 
 it cannot take us long, and so far as I am concerned, 
 we may be off to-morrow." 
 
 Zach had, in effect, no difficulty in making an
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 351 
 
 amicable settlement with Jock, who, however reluc- 
 tant to part with him, could offer no reasonable ob- 
 jection to his going. Whereupon, a balance having 
 been struck, Zach had his skins conveyed on board 
 the "Malviny," Sandy's schooner, and bade a 
 reluctant adieu to the Chance and her owner. 
 
 Moved by a sudden impulse, at the last moment he 
 called back to Jock, 
 
 "Send all letters for me to Boston! " 
 
 The "Malviny " got away the same afternoon, and 
 her skipper, as was only too evident, could hardly 
 contain himself for joy. He was heard several 
 times unmistakably singing to himself, and on some 
 slight and quite inadequate occasion burst into a 
 loud guffaw, which startled the entire crew. 
 
 By degrees he grew composed, and when they 
 were fairly out of sight of land, settled himself 
 on deck with a freshly -lighted pipe and astonished 
 his passenger by saying, 
 
 "As I was telliii' ye, ye 'member, when we got 
 interrupted t' other day, I'd agreed to take the 
 little Square up to the Chesapeake " 
 
 "Yes," said Zach, idly wondering what was com- 
 ing. 
 
 "Wall, I was a-thinkin' that as ye 'd got this 
 business up north, an' we sh'd be haaf-way up any- 
 way, I 'd better jest take on a load o' cotton an' 
 run up to Boston 'n' done with it." 
 
 Zach stared, as well he might. He had the air of 
 having quite forgotten Boston and his errand in 
 that town. 
 
 "Could you make the trip pay?"
 
 352 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 "No trouble 'bout that. Cotton is ez good ez 
 gold, an' the Yankees never git enough on 't." 
 
 Zach loaded his own pipe and pondered the 
 matter. 
 
 "You are going to take Monsieur in any case?" 
 
 "Yeah." 
 
 "And the Chesapeake is half-way up?" 
 
 "Thereabouts." 
 
 "What could you get for a return cargo? " 
 
 "Oh, the Yankees make a million o' things thet 
 we want, boots an' shoes, clo'es, tools, machin- 
 ery, dry goods, never you fear 'bout thet." 
 
 " Well, Sandy, if you 're willing to take the risk, 
 I don't see as I can do any better than go with you." 
 
 "Jest what I thought," said the skipper, and 
 thereupon burst into another guffaw, so quite inap- 
 propriate, as it seemed, to anything that had been 
 said, that Zach looked at him with a momentary 
 misgiving. 
 
 Within a fortnight, accordingly, the "Malviny" 
 sailed out of the port of New Orleans on her way 
 northward. 
 
 Zach gladly availed himself of the opportunity to 
 renew his acquaintance with Monsieur, and enjoyed 
 to the full the little lawyer's amazement at the 
 change which had taken place in his old pupil. In 
 the course of their many conversations he related in 
 part his experiences, and making known the nature 
 of his present errand to Boston, failed not to take 
 the advice of the little attorney upon his rights and 
 obligations.
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 353 
 
 But Zach had, it appears, another purpose with 
 regard to Monsieur, for, on parting with his old 
 friend at the mouth of the Potomac, he brought 
 forth his memorial, and without any unnecessary 
 explanation as to its subject-matter, begged him to 
 see that it was safely delivered. At a time when a 
 large part of the mail-matter was carried by private 
 hand, Monsieur found nothing unusual in the 
 request, and readily undertook the commission. 
 
 Thence northward the voyage was without event. 
 The "Malviny" duly and safely arrived in Boston, 
 where Sandy, on landing his passenger, charged 
 him to still consider the schooner his headquarters. 
 
 For reasons of his own, Zach's first care was to 
 visit a tailor, and it was not until after a week's 
 delay, and then in a suit of fresh mourning, with 
 immaculate linen, hat, and shoes, that he wended 
 his way to Salutation Alley. 
 
 He found his former home deserted, and on the 
 door a staring placard saying, 
 
 "To Let."
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 TURNING away from the door of his old home in 
 Salutation Alley with a baffled feeling, Zach mechan- 
 ically wandered around to the malthouse. Prepared 
 now for changes, he was nevertheless shocked at the 
 state of things there. The old building was not 
 only empty and disused, but in a tumble-down con- 
 dition. The ridge-pole had slumped, the chimneys 
 looked like incoherent heaps of brick, the clap- 
 boards were loose and flapping, the front steps had 
 fallen, the window-panes were broken, while the spa- 
 cious yard was strewn with a litter of old casks, 
 boards, and rusty kettles, interspersed with a riot- 
 ous crop of plantain and wormwood. 
 
 It was a dismal spectacle, and filled the beholder 
 with an intolerable feeling of homesickness. For 
 here had centred his dearest remembrances, here, 
 escaped from his step-mother's oversight, his hap- 
 piest childhood's hours had been passed. 
 
 Hurrying away, he took the nearest turn and 
 came into Hanover Street. With no thought of his 
 course, he wandered on towards the water-side, re- 
 viving boyish recollections at every step. 
 
 Coming to the Methodist meeting-house he noted 
 that the windows were open, and that there was a 
 sound of somebody moving within. Directly, it oc- 
 curred to him that here he might perhaps learn the
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 355 
 
 whereabouts of Mrs. Becky, who had been so long 
 a communicant of the society. 
 
 He went in. Here, at least, everything was un- 
 changed. The square-edged mahogany pulpit, the 
 bare white walls, the Gothic peaks in which the tall 
 green window-blinds ended, the unmitigated white 
 parallelogram of a ceiling with the same old water- 
 stain in the right-hand corner, which in boyish fancy 
 he used to resolve into pictures of wild-beasts fight- 
 ing, or a shipwreck at sea, how many weary times 
 he had studied these loathed details during the hours 
 of his forced attendance in the days gone by ? 
 
 He found the sexton a commonplace young 
 man dusting the pews. He was disappointed 
 that it was not the old official whose severe eye had 
 filled him with such awe when a boy. Uncon- 
 sciously he had been thirsting for years for an op- 
 portunity of bullying that once -dreaded functionary 
 and squaring the old account. 
 
 Inquiring for Mrs. Becky, he heard to his aston- 
 ishment that the family had long since moved to a 
 farm in a neighboring town, where Mr. Phips had 
 ended his days. 
 
 Getting precise directions, Zach went to the near- 
 est tavern, hired a horse and wagon, and set off in 
 search of his step-mother. Mrs. Becky's residence, 
 long since taken in and swallowed up by the spread- 
 ing metropolis of to-day, was then in the wide, wild 
 country. Zach duly rolled up to the door, after an 
 hour's drive through a pleasant winding turnpike. 
 
 A new set of surprises awaited him, beside which 
 those of the morning seemed second-rate. First
 
 356 ZACHABT PHIPS. 
 
 and foremost there was the spacious house, almost 
 manorial in appearance, the comfortable barns and 
 outhouses, and the air of thrift prevailing. Going 
 in, his wonder grew, for the large rooms, although 
 plainly furnished, seemed sumptuous beside the bare 
 and pinched interior of Salutation Alley. 
 
 A young woman received him whom he did not 
 recognize, presumably one of his half -sisters. 
 
 Mrs. Becky kept him waiting for a full quarter 
 of an hour. She had chosen for some reason to 
 make a toilet, and appeared in a black gown and 
 weeds. His first impression was that she had aged 
 a good deal. Her thin hair was brushed tightly 
 away under her cap, her skin had withered, the lines 
 in her face had deepened, and the old-time expres- 
 sion of rectitude had become confirmed. Withal 
 her whole bearing suggested an attitude towards the 
 world of disapproving sufferance. 
 
 Offering her chill and bony palm to Zach, she 
 said in a tone conscientiously meant to be friendly, 
 
 "I did n't know 's we 'd ever see ye agin." 
 
 Finding nothing appropriate to say to this, Zach 
 cleared his throat and resumed his seat. 
 
 "I did kind o' hope ye might come home 'fore 
 yer father died. He set a good deal by ye, for all " 
 Mrs. Becky hesitated for a word "the way 
 things has gone, an' he spoke of ye two or three times 
 towards the last, seemed to hev ye on his mind. 
 'T was nateral, I s'pose, bein' as things hev been, 
 you away from home so, an' no knowin' where you 
 was, or whether or no ye 'd ever come back." 
 
 "How long has he been dead? " asked Zat-h with
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 357 
 
 the intent of giving the talk a turn rather than a 
 change. 
 
 " He passed away in December the 5th of De- 
 cember, 'bout half past three in themornin'. I was 
 with him, an' when I see the change a-comin' I 
 stepped to the door an' called the children. One 
 of the neighbors was settin' up with him that night, 
 an' he helped to lay him out." 
 
 "How long was he sick? " 
 
 "Wall, he was what ye might call breakin' up 
 for three months more or less. He 's never ben jest 
 the same sence he giv' up business, but he did n't 
 seem to suffer no gret, though it come pooty sudden 
 at the last." 
 
 " Did he leave any word or message for me ? " 
 
 "No, I dunno 's he did, beyond, as I said, men- 
 tionin' yer name. I don't seem to remember any- 
 thin' pertickler. He war n't sure, an' we never hev 
 ben, 't you was alive, for one thing, an' then I dunno 
 as he hed any thin' pertickler to say ; he war n't no 
 gret of a talker anyway." 
 
 " How long since he gave up business ? " 
 
 "In the neighborhood o' two years, I should say; 
 it might be more; my memory ain't what it was." 
 
 "You have moved? " 
 
 " Yis a ahem - we hev " the sentence con- 
 cluded as if bitten off to cut short some comment on 
 the tongue. 
 
 "It 's rather strange father should have taken up 
 farming so late in life." 
 
 "Wall, 't war n't exactly matter-of -choice. He 
 traded for the farm, an' bed it on his bands, an'
 
 358 ZACHARY rmps. 
 
 the long an' short of it is 't was cheaper livin' out 
 here, an' gin us more room; so on the whole it 
 seemed the best thing to do." 
 
 There was a pause. Either Zach's curiosity was 
 satisfied, or he felt an embarrassment about going 
 on. Both evidently realized that the serious part of 
 their interview was to come. Mrs. Becky folded 
 a hem in the edge of her already nicely-hemmed 
 apron and basted it with an imaginary needle, 
 while Zach followed with his toe a red strand in 
 the braided rag-mat. 
 
 " 'D ye see the notice I put in the paper? " asked 
 Mrs. Becky at last, taking the bull by the horns. 
 
 "It was shown to me." 
 
 " I did n't hev no gret faith in it, but they told me 
 to do it, and so I did. You can't ever tell, these 
 days, how a thing '11 turn out. Ye come home a 
 purpose, I s'pose?" 
 
 "Mainly; though I had a good chance to come, 
 or perhaps I shouldn't." 
 
 "Wall, 't was right you should know, an' it's 
 the law, besides, so Square Thompson says, an' I 
 b'lieve in hevin' things settled, so 't they '11 stay 
 settled." 
 
 "Square Thompson told you to advertise, then." 
 
 "Yis." 
 
 "He 's attending to the business, I suppose." 
 
 "Yis, he is." 
 
 "Did father er " the sentence was broken by 
 an embarrassed little cough "make a will? " 
 
 "Wall, yis, he did. We didn't any on us know 
 nothin' 'bout it, though, tell afterwards. Obadiah
 
 ZACHAEY PIIIPS. 359 
 
 was a close man. A gret deal closer than /'d any 
 idee of. He kept things to himself. Nobody ever 
 know'd any thin' 'bout his business 's long as he 
 lived. He had a way o' pertendin' not to hear ef ye 
 ast any questions, an' for my part I allers s'posed 
 we was poor as Job's turkey." 
 
 Mrs. Becky smoothed out her puckered apron 
 with an impatient sweep of her hand, and her tone 
 acquired a touch of acerbity as she proceeded. 
 
 "Folks has their failin's, an' we hev to take 'em 
 as we find 'em. We all hev enough to answer for 
 in the long run; but 's my way to hev everythin' 
 open an' aboveboard as I go along, an' so ther 
 won't be nothin' to come out at the end. They say 
 't ye oughtn't to say anythin' agin them 't hes 
 passed away, but I don't think Obadiah done right, 
 an' I never shall; an' 't ain't no wuss to *say it 
 than 't is to think it. I should 'a' managed a good 
 deal diff'rent ef I 'd know'd how things was gon' to 
 turn out." 
 
 Noting the growing look of curiosity in her 
 listener's face, Mrs. Becky hastened to add, 
 
 "I don't mean to say 't he hes left any gret, any- 
 way, but he 'd allers talked so discouragin' thet I 'd 
 made up my mind thet 't would be nip an' tuck ef 
 we didn't hev to go on the town." 
 
 "I am glad if he has left you comfortable." 
 
 "Th' ain't nobody any gladder V I be. The 
 laborer 's worthy o' his hire, an' I done my share o' 
 hard work ever sence I took hold. I don't want ye 
 to think, though, 't 'mounts to sech an awful sight, 
 seem' as there 's five on us to parcel it up, 'thout 
 c6untin' in you."
 
 360 ZACIIAEY PHIPS. 
 
 Mingled with his growing curiosity Zach was 
 conscious of another feeling in connection with the 
 matter under discussion, which he could not analyze. 
 
 Turning a watchful eye upon her visitor, Mrs. 
 Becky proceeded, but with a marked hesitation. 
 
 "Ef what he left ain't divided up as well, as 
 some on us might 'a' liked, all I can say is, he did 
 it himself, an' he did as he thought right, I s'pose. 
 'T any rate," she concluded, in a tone as it seemed 
 almost defiant, which jarred upon her listener's ear, 
 "he never hed no hints from me, nor any o' my 
 family. A man never does make a will to suit other 
 folks, I s'pose." 
 
 Busy with speculations over the significance of 
 some of Mrs. Becky's tones and inflections, Zach 
 did not answer. 
 
 "Yftu ain't merried, be ye? " demanded his step- 
 mother, after a pause. 
 
 Zach shook his head. 
 
 "Oh, there, I most forgot. I knew ther was 
 sumthin'." She rose, went into the hall, and came 
 back with a stout walking-stick having a gnarled 
 root handle. 
 
 "There," she said, handing it to Zach, "he used 
 thet a sight. I ben a-keepin' it. Thought ye 
 might like it for a keepsake. He didn't leave 
 much o' anythin' o' thet sort wuth givin' away." 
 
 Zach took the cane and got up to go. 
 
 "You ain't a-goin'? Why, I er ther 's an- 
 other thing I wanted to say. Set down a minute ! 
 I er" The widow cleared her throat, and 
 braced herself as if against any recurring qualms or 
 hesitation.
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 361 
 
 "It's 'bout the business: I s'pose the sooner 
 thet 's 'tended to the better." 
 
 Zach nodded. 
 
 " I dunno as I told ye. I 'm appointed the execu- 
 trix in the will, but thet don't make no odds; it 
 don't make me responsible for what 's in it. All I 
 got to do is to carry it out jest as it 's sot down. 
 As long as I hed n't nothin' to do with makin' it, I 
 hain't got no apologies to make for what 's in it." 
 
 The indefinable feeling which Zach had found 
 difficulty, a few minutes before, in analyzing, now 
 developed into a very positive and uncomfortable 
 misgiving. 
 
 "Square Thompson drawed the will," went on 
 Mrs. Becky, "an' he 's got a copy on it. He used 
 to be his lawyer, p'rhaps you remember? " 
 
 Zach shook his head. 
 
 "Wall, he did; an' as I say, he drawed the will, 
 an' ef anybody knows anythin' 'bout Obadiah's 
 reasons for makin' it, he doos. So 't, for all I can 
 see, the best thing for you to do is to go to the 
 Square's office in town, tell him who ye be, an' 
 he '11 gin it to ye to read, an' tell ye anythin' ye 
 want to know." 
 
 Rising again to go, Zach received a halting offer 
 of hospitality, which he thought proper to decline. 
 
 The interview on the whole proved so fruitful of 
 suggestions and impressions that he never knew how 
 he got home, and only fairly awoke to things about 
 him when, settled with his pipe on board the "Mal- 
 viny," he was called to give an account of himself 
 by the impatient Sandy.
 
 362 ZACH ART PHIPS. 
 
 "Wall, Bub, what kind o' a tussle 'd ye hev 
 with yer step-marm? Is the old lady as up-an'-a- 
 comin' as she used to be?" 
 
 Next day Zach went to see Squire Thompson. 
 Having learned the name and business of his visitor, 
 the wrinkled old attorney eyed him with a truly 
 provincial curiosity, while, having brought out a 
 dusty black box studded with tarnished brass nails, 
 he fumbled among its contents for Obadiah Phips's 
 last will and testament. 
 
 Having at last received the document, Zach seated 
 himself at the window with averted face to read it. 
 As he eagerly scanned page after page, written in 
 Squire Thompson's clear but crabbed hand, his 
 wonder grew apace. At last the real Obadiah 
 Phips stood revealed. Clearly now it appeared that 
 the henpecked little maltster had led a life of his 
 own, a life within a life, enriched by unsuspected 
 passions, enjoyments, resources. Mrs. Becky had 
 been suffered to rule the roast in Salutation Alley, 
 a sordid, contemptible little roast, without let 
 or hindrance, while her triumphant spouse rolled up 
 his golden hoard and hugged to his heart the con- 
 sciousness of growing power. The petty tyranny 
 of his hearthstone was richly atoned for by hours of 
 bliss spent at the dingy little desk in the cobwebby 
 corner of the malthouse. 
 
 Mrs. Becky's undertone of irritation in speaking 
 of the defunct now became explicable. She could 
 not forgive having been left out of the secret. She 
 could not forgive Obadiah's posthumous triumph. 
 
 In his amazement at the record of farms, wood-
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 363 
 
 lots, shops, houses, mortgages, and notes of hand, 
 the reader at first took no note of their disposition. 
 Only when nearing the end it suddenly came over 
 him that his own name had not once occurred ; that 
 it was to the widow and her children all these chat- 
 tels real and personal had been bequeathed. 
 
 In a sudden fever of excitement he went back to 
 the beginning and reviewed page by page what he 
 had read. There was no mistake; the eldest son 
 was nowhere mentioned. 
 
 Hereupon, with a new and ominous significance, 
 other words and intonations of Mrs. Becky came to 
 mind. Was this, then, another unsuspected trait 
 of the old maltster ? And was it indeed unprompted, 
 this deadly, long-nourished resentment? Had the 
 unforgiving father, wholly of his own notion, waited 
 all these weary years to mete out punishment to his 
 eldest born for a childish peccadillo ? 
 
 Stay ! The reader feels a thrill, and the perspi- 
 ration starts out on his forehead. Here at last is 
 his name in the final clause ! 
 
 "To my eldest son, Zachary Phips, son of my 
 deceased wife, Susannah Shrimpton, if he be alive 
 at the time of my death, I give and bequeath the 
 property known as the Malthouse, meaning hereby 
 to include both the land and the buildings. In case, 
 however, my said son, now absent in foreign parts, 
 fails to come back, or nothing is heard of him for 
 ten years after my decease, then the said property 
 shall be sold for the benefit of my estate." 
 
 The hot blood surged to Zacb/s head. A sicken- 
 ing feeling of mortification and disappointment un-
 
 364 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 nerved him. He read the clause again and again. 
 Could he trust his eyes? Against all those sound- 
 ing bequests to Mrs. Becky and her brood was this 
 tumble-down old building and its patch of land alone 
 set aside as the portion of his first-born ! 
 
 Peering through the dusty window-panes, he sat 
 for a long time pondering the matter. A movement 
 of Squire Thompson's recalled him to himself. He 
 picked up the will, which had fallen to the floor, and 
 carefully re-read it. Coming to the last page he 
 paused. Like a flash of light a new thought came 
 into his head. Clear as a picture his father's image 
 came back to him, and as he gazed at the well-re- 
 membered features, one of the shrewd gray eyes 
 gleaming forth from between the lines of that final 
 clause seemed distinctly and knowingly to wink at 
 him.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 WITH his mind divided between doubt and a new 
 electrifying hope, Zach felt an instant need of talk- 
 ing the whole matter over with Sandy. 
 
 The skipper was the most comfortable of coun- 
 selors. Safe as the tomb as a repository of confi- 
 dences, he was, besides, not only interested and 
 sympathetic, but sometimes struck out from his own 
 peculiar standpoint very shrewd and wholesome ad- 
 vice. For the rest, his talk and his presence were 
 often frankly disregarded, and he served, a price- 
 less office in a confidant, as a convenient pretext for 
 thinking aloud. 
 
 Arrived on board the "Malviny," Zach was told 
 that the skipper was in the cabin busied with his 
 accounts. Unwilling to interrupt so serious a busi- 
 ness, he lighted his pipe and sat down on the deck. 
 
 After a long time Sandy appeared. He wore a 
 look almost haggard. Accounts always tried him 
 to the verge of desperation. The crew had learned 
 to take note of these occasions, and usually kept out 
 of his way for a time afterwards. 
 
 He came upon deck venting phrases of incoherent 
 and ungrammatical profanity. 
 
 "What 's the matter?" asked Zach, with studied 
 coolness. 
 
 "They ben at it agin."
 
 366 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "Cheatin' me." 
 
 "Who?" 
 
 "They're a set o' thievin' land - lubbers ! Th' 
 ain't no sech thing as honesty ashore anyw'ers. If 
 a man 's born honest, the dry land seems to kind o' 
 suck it out o' him." 
 
 "What's happened?" 
 
 "Jest run yer eye over thet an' ye '11 see! " hand- 
 ing a paper. "I done thet sum, an' I done it over 
 an' over agin, an' though it doos come different 
 evry time, it don't come their way none o' the 
 time." 
 
 "Who are they?" 
 
 "Our cons'nees; a set o' blood-suckin' Jews, 
 thet 's who they be, an' I say it though I 'm a Yan- 
 kee myself." 
 
 Zach took the paper good-naturedly, went over 
 the figures, and broke out laughing. 
 
 "Wall, what now?" 
 
 "It 's clear enough." 
 
 "Ah-h, thet 's what I thought." 
 
 "It 's your mistake." 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "You 've added in the year-of-our-Lord to the 
 dollars." 
 
 "Heigh! /did?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Wall, they say figgers don't lie, but I think 
 they 're the lyin'est things I ever hed anythin' to do 
 with. I 'd agree to git through life, an' git through 
 fair square 'n' aboveboard, 'thout nary cipher in
 
 ZACIIARY PHIPS. 367 
 
 it but let it go ! let it go ! I'd ruther 't be so 
 than hev 'em cheatin' ! When 'd ye git back?" 
 
 "An hour ago." 
 
 "Ben to see the lawyer?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "What 'd he say?" 
 
 "Very little." 
 
 "Then he ain't like the rest on 'em. 'D he 
 show ye th' old man's last will and testament? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Wall, ye war n't left out, I guess?" 
 
 "Not quite." 
 
 " Eh ? Ye don't say he cut ye off with a shillin' ? 
 Hm-m! Thet 's what I was 'fraid of. Wall, now, 
 Bub, thet 's yer step-marm's doin's! " 
 
 Zach cleared his throat and did not answer. 
 
 "It's the old woman's doin's, clear as glass. I 
 don't mean ter say she writ the will, but she put it 
 inter the old man's head." 
 
 "I don't know." 
 
 Busied with thoughts which, for some reason, he 
 chose not to make known yet to his companion, 
 Zach gave only a lukewarm assent to the skipper's 
 indignant charge. 
 
 "So he cut ye off, eh?" 
 
 "No; he left me a hundred dollars in money" 
 
 "A hundred ! hm-m ! 'T ain't no fortune, but 
 it might bury ye at a pinch." 
 
 "And the old malthouse property." 
 
 "What's thet wuth?" 
 
 "I don't know; but if you 're through ciphering, 
 we '11 go ashore after dinner and look at it."
 
 368 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 "So we will. It may be better 'n' nothin', but 
 I hain't no gret faith in dry land. Then agin, 
 with thet old woman a-watchin' an' a-grabbin' 
 around, th' ain't no gret danger ye 've got much of 
 a plum." 
 
 After a midday dinner aboard, the two went ashore 
 and, sauntering around through Dock Square, came 
 to the malthouse. 
 
 "Yeah, hm-m!" muttered Sandy, ejecting a 
 mouthful of tobacco juice, and drying his lips on 
 the back of his hand. " Wall, Bub, ef ye want to 
 know my opinion o' thet, I would n't take it for a 
 gift!" * 
 
 Busy with his own speculations, Zach made no 
 remark. 
 
 "More 'n thet," continued the skipper, with rising 
 indignation, "I'd make a present on 't to the old 
 woman, an' tell her thet s' long 's she 's got the 
 run o' the stye, she can jest git inter the trough an' 
 suzzle round." 
 
 The satire fell on deaf ears. Zach, with calcu- 
 lating eyes, was measuring the space covered by the 
 outhouses and pigpens which, straggling downward 
 towards the dock, disguised the very spacious di- 
 mensions of the lot. 
 
 " 'Less ye wanted to go inter raisin' hogs fer a 
 livin'," continued Sandy, "I don't see as ye can do 
 anythin' with the land, an' as fer the buildin's, the 
 best thing is to set fire to 'em 'fore they drop." 
 
 "Humph! I don't know, skipper. You could 
 never tell what father meant by anything he said 
 or did; and I've been thinking perhaps he's not 
 done a bad thing by me."
 
 ZACHASY PHIPS. 369 
 
 The skipper whistled incredulously and took a 
 fresh quid. 
 
 "Do you see how all the business is crowding 
 down to this end of the town? " 
 
 "Hm-m-m!" 
 
 " Do you see all those big stores and warehouses 
 in State Street?" 
 
 "Wall?" 
 
 " Do you see how fast it is building up over there 
 on the other side of the market? " 
 
 "What of it?" 
 
 "Don't you notice how the building fever is be- 
 ginning to creep around to this side ? Look at that 
 row on the corner." 
 
 "Wall, Bub, now ye pint it out, it doos seem as 
 ef 't was sunthin' spreadiii', like the measles or 
 varyloid, but" 
 
 "Just notice, too," continued Zach, with kindling 
 eye, "that all these new buildings are shops and 
 stores and warehouses, and that every one of them 
 is occupied." 
 
 "Yeah, yeah, I do," answered the reluctant skip- 
 per. 
 
 " Well, now, Sandy, I 'm beginning to think my 
 father knew what he was about " 
 
 "Ye don't say!" 
 
 "Knew that he was giving me the most valuable 
 piece of real estate he had, and that he meant to 
 do it." 
 
 Sandy screwed up his eyes and refrained for some 
 minutes from any comment, walking about the prem- 
 ises, trampling down the weeds, and kicking the old
 
 370 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 kettles with a dejected air. At last, conscious that 
 some comment was expected of him, he cleared his 
 mouth and said, 
 
 "It may be as you say. I don't say 't ain't. 
 You know'd the old man, an' you 're the best jedge. 
 Ef, as you 've ben a-tellin', he outwitted the old 
 woman all his life, 't ain't onlikely he may 'a' 
 played this ere caper arter he was dead. All the 
 same, Bub, ef ye want my mind, I 'm free to say, I 
 don't begredge ye this ramshackle old place one 
 mite." 
 
 So far from being disconcerted by this very posi- 
 tive opinion, the devisee walked back to the wharf 
 where their boat was waiting with an air of elation, 
 stopping at the first painter's shop on the way to 
 order a large board painted with the legend, 
 
 FOR SALE OR To LET. 
 INQUIRE OF THE POSTMASTER. 
 
 Meantime a purpose had been forming in Zach's 
 mind, which next day, in one of his talking-aloud 
 moods, he laid before the skipper, much to that 
 worthy's surprise. 
 
 "I 've been thinking of those skins of mine." 
 
 " 'Feard the moths '11 git at 'em? " 
 
 "No, but how I 'm to get rid of 'em." 
 
 "Wall, take yer time; th' won't be no storage 
 charges while they 're on board the Malviny." 
 
 "But there 's the risk of fire, and then it 's high 
 time I was getting my money out of 'em." 
 
 "So it is; ye 're right. Why don't ye try an' 
 trade 'em off here in town ? "
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 371 
 
 Zach shook his head. 
 
 "Eh? Why not?" 
 
 "London 's the only market." 
 
 "The cost o' sendin' on 'em over 'd eat up most 
 o' the profit, I reckon." 
 
 "Yes, so I 'm thinking of taking them myself." 
 
 "Sho!" 
 
 "I could do better with them myself than another, 
 and have a chance to see a bit of the world besides." 
 
 "Yeah, "said Sandy doubtfully, "ef ye understood 
 the language." 
 
 "Language! why 'tis English!" 
 
 "Wall, they call it English, but an out-an'-out 
 Frenchman is a mightier sight easier ter understand. 
 I never pertend to ketch more 'n one word in ten 
 when a Johnny Bull talks. He mumbles his words 
 round in his jaw like a bite o' hot hasty pudding, 
 and generally swallers more 'n half he oughter spit 
 out." 
 
 Several hours afterwards the skipper came to Zach 
 as he was sitting in the stern sheets, and mumbled 
 with an embarrassed air, 
 
 "I didn't say nothin' 'bout it afore, I s'pose 
 you thought 't was queer, but, fact is, I did n't 
 see how I could do it, an' I wanted to think it 
 over." 
 
 "What?" asked Zach, innocently. 
 
 "Ye see, she ain't rigged for it." 
 
 "Rigged for what?" 
 
 "Takin' on ye across the pond." 
 
 "Who ain't?" 
 
 "The Malviny."
 
 372 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 Next morning, Zach found in his mail a formida- 
 ble-looking official document. Breaking the seal, 
 he read as follows : 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C., 
 EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 10, 1818. 
 
 To ZACHARY PHIPS, ESQ. 
 
 Sir, Your communication upon the Seminole 
 War has been received and considered, and His Ex- 
 cellency, the President, desires me to" say that your 
 presence is desired here at your earliest convenience 
 with a view to a fuller discussion of its contents. 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 J M N, 
 
 Private Sec'y. 
 
 To say that Zach was much moved by this sum- 
 mons is to speak within bounds. Evidently he had 
 looked for no such result from his memorial. After 
 mulling over the matter for a while, he took Sandy 
 into his counsel. The skipper promptly expressed 
 his opinion. 
 
 "Th' ain't no two ways 'bout answerhr thet." 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "Ye '11 hev to go." 
 
 This was confirmatory of Zach's own first impres- 
 sions. He walked apart and read the letter again. 
 It is not to be denied that it caused a very percepti- 
 ble stir in his blood. Remembrances of Burr and 
 his memorable words come back. For years he 
 has been waiting, he hardly knows for what, a 
 chance, a hearing. Suddenly a door opens before 
 him leading he knows not whither, and from within 
 an unknown voice cries, "Enter! "
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 373 
 
 His mind made up, two things remained to be 
 done : to settle up with Mrs. Becky, and to inquire 
 of "Square" Thompson what disposition the late 
 Obadiah Phips had made of the prize-money given 
 him by his son to invest. 
 
 Upon this point he received a prompt and satis- 
 factory report. 
 
 "Yes, yes, to be sure," said the old attorney, 
 fumbling over the contents of his leather box, "*t 
 was your money, your name is Zachary, yes, I 
 remember ; he told me all about it. Ah, here it is ! 
 Your father, young man, was one of the best judges 
 of real property in this town; had a scent like a 
 dog for a good investment. Now this matter," un- 
 tying with deliberation some dusty old papers as 
 he talked ; " let me see, the original investment was 
 a thousand dollars, or thereabouts. Well, he put 
 that into a note and mortgage. The interest was 
 never paid ; I guess he never very much expected it 
 would be. He foreclosed in due time, reduced the 
 premises to possession, and when the equity expired 
 he patched up the old buildings a little, and let the 
 place for just about enough to cover expenses." 
 Zach, listening attentively, did not look impressed 
 with this evidence of paternal shrewdness. "Now, 
 just before his last sickness, he was in here one day 
 talking about this business, you ain't bound, of 
 course, by anything he said. I ? m only giving you 
 his opinion for what it 's worth. The old man said 
 he should let that pot simmer for four or five years, 
 and then he ended up by giving me a wink." 
 
 On going out next morning to call upon Mrs.
 
 374 ZACHAET PHIPS. 
 
 Becky, Zach found her in a faded calico gown 
 mopping the entry floor. Quickly controlling a 
 slight embarrassment, she said, as she pushed aside 
 her slop-pail to make room for him, - 
 
 "I didn't 'spect company quite so early. Walk 
 into the front room, won't ye, an' set down? It 's 
 a pooty hot day." 
 
 Too much preoccupied to heed the housewife's 
 discomfiture, Zach walked into the darkened keep- 
 ing-room and took a seat. 
 
 Mrs. Becky did not keep him waiting. Having 
 washed her hands, smoothed her hair, and tied a 
 white handkerchief about her throat, she came in 
 with an ill-controlled look of curiosity. 
 
 "You ahem you ben to see Square Thomp- 
 son yit?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " 'D he show ye 'd ye read the will? " 
 
 "I did." 
 
 "Wall, h-h-hem! Obadiah did it, an' he did 
 it jest as he wanted to, I s'pose; an' after all, 
 't ain't nobody's business but his'n." 
 
 This comment was uttered with a certain air of 
 defiance which was not lost upon the listener, who 
 dryly remarked, 
 
 "He evidently never expected me to come back." 
 
 "I dunno 'bout that," returned the executrix de- 
 fensively, adding with a little deprecatory flutter, 
 "It's kind o' out o' repair now, but I s'pose it 
 could be fixed up so 's to be wuth sumthin' to any- 
 body thet was in that kind o' business." 
 
 Zach stole a quiet look at the speaker. Her
 
 ZACHAEY PH1PS. 375 
 
 apologetic tone was significant. It was plain, more- 
 over, that she had not lately visited the neighbor- 
 hood of the malthouse. 
 
 There followed a long pause which, although she 
 tried several times, the widow found it difficult to 
 break. 
 
 "Wall, what 'bout the rest on 't?" she suddenly 
 burst forth. 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "Ef ye read the will, ye see thet ther 's sumthin' 
 extry comin' to you in the shape o' money." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Thet's a legacy. Of course it belongs to me 
 to pay it, an' I want to git it settled. I must con- 
 fess it puts me out to be called on so sudd in. It 's 
 a sight o' money. I dunno, I 'm sure, when be 
 ye goin' away?" 
 
 "To-morrow." 
 
 ""What say?" she cried, with a flash of her old 
 militant energy. "To-morrer? Ye 're crazy! How 
 d' ye think I 'm goin' to git the money? I declare 
 for 't, it puts me all in a fever. I can't do it, I 
 tell ye. But there there '11 be papers to sign, of 
 course, an' we 've got to go to the Square's any- 
 way." 
 
 She clutched at the momentary reprieve as a 
 drowning man at a straw. 
 
 Next day, on the stroke of the hour, Zach 
 appeared at Squire Thompson's office, where Mrs. 
 Becky had already been waiting a full half hour. 
 At her request the lawyer drew up a form of receipt
 
 376 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 discharging the executrix from all further obligation 
 to the legatee. 
 
 Bringing forth the late maltster's well-worn 
 leather wallet, Mrs. Becky, with nervous scrupu- 
 losity, counted out the precious banknotes, and 
 handed them to the legatee with the air of one com- 
 mitting them to the flames.
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 EARLY next morning, accompanied by the faith- 
 ful skipper, Zach made his way to Earl's Coffee- 
 house on Hanover Street, and took his place on the 
 fast mail stage-coach, the Flying Cloud, which stood 
 before the door harnessed with four horses, ready to 
 set forth on its long journey. 
 
 "Ready" is a word of elastic meaning, and in 
 this connection may be taken with reservations. So 
 far as concerned the stage -traveling public, Jerry 
 Twichell, the burly and experienced driver, de- 
 clared that "They never was, an' they never would 
 be what you might call really ready, ef you waited 
 till the crack o' doom, an' th' only way is to start on 
 the pint of the hour, ready or no ready." 
 
 What with the bestowal of passengers, the strap- 
 ping on of luggage, the hurrying to and fro of 
 grooms examining the harness and running-gear, 
 the arrival of late letters to be put in the mail, and 
 the coming in of eleventh-hour parcels which were 
 tossed up to a mysterious limbo of odds and ends 
 beneath the driver's feet, the tavern yard presented 
 a bustling scene. 
 
 At last, when warning had been given for the 
 third time in the public rooms that the stage for 
 New York was about to start, the rubicund Jerry 
 emerged from the tap-room with a fortified air,
 
 378 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 climbed to his seat amongst a litter of portmanteaus, 
 hampers, parcels, and travelers' legs, shook out his 
 reins, cracked his long whip, and the lumbering 
 vehicle went tilting and swaying off to the south- 
 ward along the Dedham turnpike. 
 
 As they turned the corner of Court Street, Zach 
 looked back and beheld Sandy standing disconso- 
 lately in the tavern yard, wiping from his lips with 
 the back of his hand the sugary lees of their parting 
 dram. 
 
 An hour for dinner at Dedham, and they were 
 away again. Commonplace incidents of travel 
 beguiled the afternoon : a fat man on the top went 
 to sleep and well-nigh rolled off; a nervous woman 
 inside was seized with nausea; the driver, lapsing 
 from the awful dignity of the first few miles, unbent 
 to the pitch of recounting several terrible accidents 
 which had befallen other lines of coaches. 
 
 At the end of the first day, the fellow-travelers 
 began to feel a little acquainted, and, seated after 
 supper on the broad front steps of Landlord Clark's 
 hostelry at Medway, they discussed over their pipes 
 the topics of the hour. 
 
 Zach was greatly interested to find that the all- 
 absorbing subject for discussion was the Seminole 
 War, and what course the Government would take 
 in dealing with General Jackson. Meanwhile, what- 
 ever the Government might do, it was clear enough 
 what these Bostoneers and their neighbors thought 
 about the matter. Bight or wrong, General Jack- 
 son must be sustained. The argument was as clear 
 as crystal and would pack in a nutshell. He had
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 379 
 
 been sent down to put an end to the Seminole War. 
 He had put an end to it, a speedy and effectual 
 end ; and if the Government wanted a man to fool 
 and make believe, they must send somebody besides 
 "Old Hickory." 
 
 Listening to sentiments like these, combined with 
 much false statement of fact and many weak and 
 irresponsible conclusions, Zach achieved a triumph 
 of self-control in keeping his mouth shut. 
 
 Next morning betimes the disputants were again 
 speeding on their way and slept that night at Thomp- 
 son, Connecticut. The following day the little Nut- 
 meg State unfolded to them her charms, and glad- 
 dened their eyes by visions of a rich and rolling 
 country. 
 
 Although the road was none of the best, the jolts 
 and jarrings were soon forgotten on arriving at Cov- 
 entry, where they found not only a well-cooked sup- 
 per, but a cordial welcome at the hands of the buxom 
 landlady and her comely daughters, who have been 
 otherwise handed down to fame. 
 
 Arriving on the following afternoon before sun- 
 down at Hartford, Zach took time for a stroll through 
 the wide elm-shaded streets, which he thought the 
 most charming he had ever seen, and remained firmly 
 of that mind until, at the end of another day's jaunt, 
 they reached New Haven. 
 
 Here he was astonished to find the shops and 
 private dwellings well-nigh as fine as those of Bos- 
 ton, although, save for the college and one or two 
 churches, the whole town was built of wood. 
 
 The passengers on the Flying Cloud were by this
 
 380 ZACH ART PHIPS. 
 
 time old acquaintances. They varied the monotony 
 of the journey by playing "Odd and Even," match- 
 ing pennies, telling stories, cracking jokes, and now 
 and then, by making the welkin ring with an old- 
 time catch or the refrain of a popular song. 
 
 Arrived at Stamford, they were cheered by the 
 driver's declaration that "the brunt of the journey 
 was nigh about over." Thence on through the flour- 
 ishing towns of Stratford, Fairfield, and Newfield, 
 and along the whole smiling shore of Long Island 
 Sound, they bowled along over smoothest roads and 
 through scenes neat, trim, and well-adjusted as the 
 unfolding scenes of a panorama. 
 
 One more stop at Rye, near Morrisania, the resi- 
 dence of the famous Gouverneur Morris, and behold, 
 at last, the great city of New York. Approaching 
 it thus from the landward side, Zach was astonished 
 at its far-stretching suburbs, and almost held his 
 breath at the statement of one of the passengers that 
 the city now contained fully one hundred thousand 
 inhabitants. 
 
 Rolling down Broadway with a thundering noise, 
 they drew up at last before Mrs. Avery's, in the 
 Battery, having made the whole journey in less tluin 
 eight days, thereby bettering the best record ever 
 made by the Flying Cloud. 
 
 Improving the half hour before supper, Zach 
 roamed about the greensward of the Battery, study- 
 ing the shipping in the harbor and watching the sun 
 set behind the Jersey hills. 
 
 That evening, accompanied by one of his fellow- 
 travelers, he went to the Park Theatre to see the
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 381 
 
 renowned actor Edmund Kean in his great part of 
 Richard III. Disappointed on the first entrance of 
 the tragedian by his inferior size, Zach speedily for- 
 got that drawback as the play proceeded. However 
 diminutive in reality, the actor had caught the trick 
 of looking big, and, by the freedom with which he 
 flung himself about, by the working of his brilliant 
 eyes, and the sonorous cadences of his elocution, so 
 dominated the stage that the audience sat thrilled 
 before him. Indeed, one woman in the pit fainted 
 away in the great tent scene, which, although it may 
 well have been due to bad air, was universally at- 
 tributed to the power of the player. 
 
 Willingly would Zach have lingered in the bus- 
 tling metropolis, which had grown and changed re- 
 markably since his former visit ; but, keeping ever 
 in mind his momentous summons, he started next 
 day betimes on his way to the capital. 
 
 Through the heart of New Jersey, stopping only 
 at Trenton, he came to Philadelphia, and in the long 
 twilight after supper roamed about the streets, striv- 
 ing to find one place or building only dimly to 
 recall the scene of his memorable setting forth so 
 many years ago on the fateful Washita expedition. 
 
 Staying not for sentiment .or remembrance, next 
 morning he was again on the way, and arrived, after 
 a two days' tedious ride through a barren country, 
 at the noted city of Baltimore, where the beauty 
 and splendor of the town made ample amends for 
 its dreary surroundings. 
 
 Thirty -three miles further on they came to An- 
 napolis, but the tavern to which they were com-
 
 382 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 mended, as being "of great repute," proved to be a 
 big barn of a place thronged with dirty, idle negroes, 
 where they had the worst fare and the poorest at- 
 tendance experienced anywhere on the route. 
 
 With a sigh of relief, next morning, Zach climbed 
 upon the roof of the Flying Cloud. It was to be 
 their last day upon the road. But glad as he was to 
 reach his journey's end, he nevertheless experienced 
 a touch of uneasiness, as he reflected upon the un- 
 known nature and the uncertain issue of his errand. 
 
 Late in the afternoon, in a pouring rain, they at 
 last rolled into Washington. He was greatly disap- 
 pointed at its aspect. At first, indeed, it seemed 
 little more than a conglomerate of negro huts, above 
 which, in the distance, towered in bizarre contrast 
 the palatial White House and the vast scaffolded 
 structure of the unfinished Capitol, so lately de- 
 stroyed by the British. 
 
 All about were dreary fields and treeless ridges, 
 intersected at regular intervals by the interminable 
 lines of projected streets and avenues, roughly laid 
 out. Along some of these, occasional mean two- 
 story brick buildings, scattered at wide intervals, 
 served only to deepen the impression of desolation. 
 
 Down near the Government Building, to vary 
 the scene, there was a sprinkling of rum-shops and 
 gambling-houses, the doorways of which were filled 
 with loungers. Everywhere the streets were hub- 
 deep with mud. 
 
 Having heard much of O'Neal's tavern, Zach 
 went thither, where presently, much to his surprise, 
 he beheld pop in, out of the storm, like a half-
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 383 
 
 drowned rat, his old friend Monsieur. The two 
 were well content to meet. 
 
 It soon proved, moreover, that the house had other 
 and more notable inmates than the little Frenchman, 
 and the new-comer was well-nigh overpowered to 
 find himself sitting at supper in company with sev- 
 eral congressmen, one or two visiting governors, a 
 sprinkling of military and naval officers, and several 
 foreigners of more or less note. 
 
 The landlord's bouncing daughter, who was des- 
 tined to cut a great figure in the records of a suc- 
 ceeding administration, with the aid of a brace of 
 negro wenches served the guests, and received with 
 equanimity the rather free jokes and compliments of 
 these grave and merry personages. 
 
 Consulting Monsieur upon the proper course to 
 pursue, Zach was told that he must promptly make 
 known his arrival in the capital by a call at the 
 White House. 
 
 With his heart in his mouth, yet sustained by an 
 underlying firmness of purpose which heretofore had 
 served him at need, he accordingly set forth, about 
 ten o'clock next morning, to call upon the Chief 
 Magistrate. 
 
 He was astonished to find the White House, about 
 which he had heard so much, still unfinished. He 
 found himself, moreover, a little appalled by the 
 show of state which hedged about the august person 
 whom he sought. 
 
 The imposing slave, dressed in a dark livery with 
 gilt buttons, who opened the door, doubted, after a 
 deprecating survey of the caller, whether the Presi-
 
 384 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 dent would receive him at such an hour, but was 
 prevailed upon to take up his name. 
 
 With quickened heart-beat, Zach sat down in the 
 ante-room to wait. His pulses had time to subside 
 to a movement quite normal before he saw or heard 
 anything more of his messenger. Meantime, from 
 a state of anxiety he lapsed into one of weariness, 
 and at last, in the somnolent noontide atmosphere, 
 nodded off to sleep. 
 
 Brusquely awakened from this stolen nap by the 
 dilatory negro, Zach was shown upstairs and ushered 
 into the presence of an important-looking man who 
 sat writing at a desk. 
 
 Advancing to the middle of the room, the visitor 
 respectfully stood and waited. The man continued 
 to write for several minutes. Presently, without 
 looking up, he uttered with a sharp rising inflection 
 the word 
 
 "Phips?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "You come to see His Excellency? " 
 
 "Yes I the President sent for me." 
 
 "Take a seat!" 
 
 Accepting the invitation, Zach wondered whether 
 this could be the Chief Magistrate in person, obliged 
 by etiquette to speak of himself in the third person. 
 
 Awaiting the further leisure of this busy person- 
 age, Zach took note of his surroundings. The 
 room was large, and plainly furnished. Some maps 
 hung on the wall. There was a bust of somebody 
 on a pedestal. A tall clock ticked in the corner. 
 The carpet, otherwise faded, was worn quite thread-
 
 Z AGHAST PHIPS. 385 
 
 bare under the desk by the shuffling feet of its rest- 
 less occupant. 
 
 During the hour which Zach waited, several per- 
 sons were ushered in by the black door-tender, dis- 
 patched their business, and retired. From time to 
 time a young man brought papers from an inner 
 room. On one of these occasions the young man 
 addressed the person at the desk as Mr. Mason. 
 
 Instantly Zach rose and advanced to the desk. 
 
 The secretary, looking up, said coolly, 
 
 "Eh? Haven't you been in yet? " Then turn- 
 ing to the under-secretary, continued, 
 
 " Somebody the President sent for ; show him 
 in!" 
 
 Choking with indignation, Zach passed through 
 the door the young man opened, and found himself 
 at last in the presence of the Chief Magistrate, but 
 without any of that feeling of awe with which two 
 hours before he had entered the house. 
 
 He discovered, as the sole occupant of the room, 
 a spare, middle-aged man, busied with some papers 
 at a desk. He was dressed in a drab coat and knee- 
 breeches, with white top-boots, as though he had 
 just returned from an outing on horseback. His 
 scant hair was powdered, and gathered into a cue 
 behind. A voluminous white cravat came snugly 
 up under his chin, while his ruffled shirt, in snowy 
 waves of lawn, rippled in and out of his old-time 
 waistcoat. 
 
 Looking up from his work, he presented to his 
 visitor a world-worn but unimpressive face, marked 
 by deep lateral furrows across a rather contracted
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 forehead, by small, impassive blue -gray eyes, and 
 cheeks hollowed from loss of teeth. 
 
 "What can I do for you, sir? " he asked. 
 
 "Nothing! " bluntly answered the visitor, indig- 
 nant at being thus thrust in without introduction. 
 
 Dropping his head, the better to look over his 
 glasses, the President surveyed the speaker with 
 mild surprise. 
 
 " 'T is not my hour for receiving general visit- 
 ors," he patiently objected, well aware that his new 
 rules of etiquette were not yet widely known to the 
 public, "but I bid you welcome if you come to pay 
 your respects." 
 
 "I came because I was sent for." 
 
 " What is your name? " 
 
 "Zachary Phips." 
 
 "Humph," after a long and deliberate reflection. 
 "Yes, I remember, something to do with the Semi- 
 noles with General Jackson. Take a seat, Mr. 
 Phips ! I want to have a talk with you." 
 
 Finishing a letter which he had been writing, the 
 President signed it with an old-fashioned flourish 
 and, throwing down his quill, fixed his small, intent 
 eyes again upon his visitor. 
 
 "So you are Mr. Phips!" 
 
 Zach bowed. 
 
 "You are young, sir, to have a hand in such a 
 matter as that you wrote me upon ! " 
 
 Doubtful whether to interpret this as a compli- 
 ment or a reproach, Zach was silent. Conscious, 
 moreover, that he was being subjected to a jealous 
 if not hostile scrutiny, he looked uncomfortable.
 
 ZACHARY PH1PS. 387 
 
 "I found the contents of your paper very extra- 
 ordinary, sir. Do you know that you took upon 
 yourself a grave responsibility in writing it? " 
 
 Zach stared, and hesitated. 
 
 "You have brought very serious charges against 
 a most distinguished man, charges which nothing 
 but the truth could justify; are you prepared to 
 substantiate them?" 
 
 "I am," was the prompt and bold answer. "I 
 told the truth, and I am ready to stand by it ! " 
 
 "Are you ready to confront General Jackson and 
 repeat these charges?" was the next question, put 
 with an emphasis evidently intended to daunt the 
 accuser. 
 
 "I will confront General Jackson and his whole 
 court, and call them all the pack of murderers that 
 they are! " 
 
 An odd movement took place in the face of the 
 veteran statesman, a movement rather of the blood 
 than of the muscles, which in one of a more delicate 
 complexion would have resulted in a flush. Other- 
 wise he received this violent statement with surpris- 
 ing imperturbability. 
 
 "Are you aware that General Jackson went to 
 Florida armed with extraordinary powers?" he 
 asked after a little. 
 
 "Whatever his powers, they could not include the 
 right to invade the territory of a friendly nation, 
 to capture their forts, to imprison without warrant 
 the subjects of still another neutral power there so- 
 journing, to execute without fair trial persons not 
 taken in actual war, to decoy by tricks unsuspecting
 
 388 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 Indian chiefs on board his men-of-war and hang 
 them like dogs in cold blood." 
 
 The chief magistrate coughed a dry little cough, 
 and looked a bit baffled. 
 
 "You take a very singular view of this case," he 
 said after a moment's reflection, "the view, I may 
 say, of a foreigner; are you too a British subject?" 
 
 "I told you explicitly in the memorial that I am 
 an American." 
 
 " Humph ! Where were you born ? " 
 
 "In Boston." 
 
 " So ! you were educated, then, at Harvard Col- 
 lege?" 
 
 A deep flush overspread Zach's face at this invol- 
 untary tribute. 
 
 "No." 
 
 "You have studied abroad?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 " Where, then, did you acquire this knowledge of 
 history and international law? " 
 
 "From private study." 
 
 "And the French?" 
 
 " I picked it up in New Orleans, everybody 
 speaks French there." 
 
 "How long have you been studying these sub- 
 jects? " 
 
 "Ten years or more." 
 
 "What is your profession?" 
 
 Again Zach blushed, and for a moment was at a 
 loss, but in the end answered bluntly, 
 
 "I have none." 
 
 "You were associated with this Scotchman in
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 389 
 
 trading, as I remember your account of yourself in 
 the memorial." 
 
 " Temporarily and by chance ; we met in Nassau, 
 and having nothing better to do, I took up with his 
 offer." 
 
 "What were you doing in Nassau?" 
 
 "I went there to to see some friends after 
 being released from prison in Halifax." 
 
 "How came you imprisoned in Halifax? Par- 
 don me, young man, it is necessary that I know 
 with whom I am dealing in so serious a matter! " 
 
 " I was captured by the British Shannon when she 
 took the Chesapeake." 
 
 "You were in our navy? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " So ! you have served your country, then. How 
 long were you in the service? " 
 
 "About two years." 
 
 "You can refer to your commanding officers? " 
 
 "Captain Lawrence is dead" 
 
 "True, I forgot." 
 
 " Commodore Isaac Hull might remember me I 
 don't know it 's a good while ago, and I was only 
 a middy." 
 
 "You were with him? " 
 
 "On the Constitution." 
 
 The President's face cleared. 
 
 " Why, after this record, did you leave the ser- 
 vice? " 
 
 " Because the Avar was over, my term had expired, 
 and the country had no further need of me." 
 
 "Humph!" The questioner rose, walked about
 
 390 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 the room, and looked out of one of the tall win- 
 dows ; Zach remarking the while that he had an un- 
 graceful figure and carriage. 
 
 "You came here from Boston?" he asked, after 
 several minutes' silence. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "And what were you doing in Boston?" 
 
 "Attending to business connected with my fa- 
 ther's estate." 
 
 "You are a man of property, then? " 
 
 "No er I nothing worth mentioning." 
 
 Returning to his seat at the table, the President 
 fixed his eyes again attentively upon his visitor. 
 
 "What are your means of subsistence." 
 
 For a moment Zach showed signs of returning 
 embarrassment, but controlling himself, answered 
 simply, 
 
 "I have none." 
 
 "No profession, no occupation! You must have 
 turned one and twenty?" 
 
 "I am twenty -two." 
 
 "You are going back to Boston?" 
 
 "I suppose so; I don't know. I shall stay here 
 till Congress comes in." 
 
 The brows of the veteran politician contracted 
 into a little frown. He drummed with his white 
 fingers on the green baize cloth before him, and 
 studied his visitor askance. 
 
 " 'T is a good while ; are you content to remain 
 so long idle?" 
 
 "No, but I have nothing to call me away." 
 
 "Humph!"
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 391 
 
 The President had the air of refraining to say 
 something which was on the tip of his tongue. 
 
 "Have you ever thought of the public service? " 
 
 Zach stared, as though not understanding the 
 question. 
 
 "You know the French language," went on the 
 Chief Magistrate with the tone of one who convinces 
 himself. "You seem familiar with history and in- 
 ternational law, no very common accomplishments. 
 I don't see why twenty -two years old, you say 
 I don't see why you shouldn't be able to make 
 yourself useful at some of our embassies abroad." 
 
 The flush of delight in the listener's face did not 
 escape the shrewd eyes which were so closely scan- 
 ning it. 
 
 "I will think it over. I will see what can be 
 done. We must have another talk. Meantime," 
 the President got up, and his visitor, taking the 
 hint, followed suit, " say nothing about this Florida 
 matter. You will hear a great deal of loose talk 
 about the town here, but where are you stay- 
 ing?" 
 
 "At O'Neal's." 
 
 "You could not be in a worse place," cried His 
 Excellency, with a look of annoyance. "That 
 house is a regular wasp's nest. Take care, then! 
 Not a word of this business yonder. You will need 
 to keep a guard on your tongue, and the least said 
 the better."
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 RETURNING to the tavern, Zach spent the rest of 
 the day thinking over his conversation with the 
 Chief Magistrate. There were points in it which 
 he did not understand, and which, to his annoyance, 
 did not become clear in meditating upon them. 
 Certain words, certain looks, certain tones of the 
 President, seemed, considered now in retrospect, 
 bristling with insinuation and hopelessly inscrutable. 
 In result, the whole experience proved harassing. 
 One thing which he ought to have discovered re- 
 mained as doubtful as ever, the purpose of the 
 Government in sending for him. 
 
 Other questions there were, no less vexing : why, 
 despite his apparent composure, had there been such 
 a suggestion of anxiety in the President's manner? 
 Why had every mention of General Jackson's 
 name been accompanied by a visible uneasiness? 
 Why, in fine, had there been the gratuitous hint of 
 foreign employment to him, the bearer of grave and 
 unwelcome charges against a valued servant of the 
 administration ? 
 
 After much vain pondering over the matter by 
 himself, Zach took Monsieur into counsel. The tell- 
 tale face of the little attorney showed clearly enough 
 his great astonishment at certain parts of the story, 
 but he was very chary of comment or advice. He
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 professed himself unable to form an opinion upon 
 the matter as presented, and advised a suspension 
 of judgment. 
 
 This was certainly safe advice, and as Mr. Mon- 
 roe had asked for another interview, there seemed 
 nothing for Zach to do but to await His Excellency's 
 leisure. 
 
 Meantime, for want of better occupation, he in- 
 terested himself in studying the new phase of life 
 about him. 
 
 The talk among the boarders at O'Neal's, always 
 diverting, sometimes proved suggestive. Coming 
 down late to breakfast one morning, a few days 
 after his call at the White House, Zach found a half 
 dozen, or more of his fellow-lodgers lingering at the 
 table. 
 
 "I reckon you Federalists '11 keep pooty mum 
 when the general gits up here next month," the 
 landlord's free-spoken daughter was saying. 
 
 "No fear o' the old fox showing his head here! " 
 commented a member of Congress. 
 
 "Ain't there? He is pooty apt to show his head 
 anywhere, where there 's a row." 
 
 "So you think there's going to be a row here, 
 Peggy?" asked the member of Congress, with a 
 wink at his fellows. 
 
 "You jest wait till Congress comes in an' see! 
 The general 's comin' down a purpose to take a hand 
 in it, too." 
 
 "Huh! don't you be scared, Peggy! Old Hick- 
 ory has had all the row he wants for the present." 
 
 "He is comin', I tell you. He has written to pa 
 for a room."
 
 394 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 This indisputable announcement fell like a bomb- 
 shell upon the little circle, and the triumphant Peggy 
 withdrew in high glee at the sensation she had cre- 
 ated. 
 
 Neither Peggy's remark nor its effect were lost 
 upon a certain shy and silent member of the break- 
 fast party. Pondering the matter slowly, gradually, 
 like the dawning of day, a light was diffused in his 
 mind. Perhaps the President might also know of 
 General Jackson's purposed trip to Washington. 
 Not impossibly he, too, might have foreseen the 
 " row " likely to ensue on the assembling of Con- 
 gress. What then? 
 
 A puzzling question, and Zach was given a whole 
 fortnight to consider it, during which he heard no- 
 thing from the White House. Just as he had come 
 to the conclusion that he and his business were for- 
 gotten, he received a note from the busy secretary, 
 summoning him to another interview with President 
 Monroe. 
 
 This time the visitor was promptly admitted. 
 
 The President was at leisure. His Excellency 
 had plainly given some thought to the business, for, 
 besides Zach's memorial, he had before him a pile 
 of other papers apparently relating to it. 
 
 He began without preliminary, and cross-exam- 
 ined Zach about all the transactions which took 
 place in and around St. Marks in a close and search- 
 ing manner, referring from time to time to the pile 
 of papers, which included, there can be no doubt, 
 certain letters, since famous in history, written by 
 the chief actor in those tragic events.
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 395 
 
 Zach repeated the story told on his former visit, 
 nor suffered himself to be shaken a jot from his 
 position by the ingenious harrying of the Chief 
 Magistrate. 
 
 At last, satisfied or discouraged, the President 
 pushed the papers from him and remained for a time 
 silent. Presently, turning about, he fastened his 
 eyes upon Zach, and proceeded to study his face 
 several minutes without speaking. 
 
 "You suggested the other day, Mr. Phips," he 
 at last said, " that you would like a position in the 
 public service." 
 
 "The suggestion came from you," was the blunt 
 answer. 
 
 "That may be, it's a matter of no conse- 
 quence. The point is, you expressed a willingness 
 to accept such a position." 
 
 Zach bowed, with an embarrassed look. 
 
 "I think at the time I spoke of France, or the 
 Continent, perhaps on account of your knowledge of 
 the French language; but I have since heard that 
 Mr. Rush is in need of an under-secretary " 
 
 "Mr. Rush!" 
 
 "Our minister at the Court of St. James." 
 
 "You mean London?" demanded Zach, in a 
 fluster. 
 
 "London, of course," said the President, puzzled 
 at his visitor's sudden emotion. "It is an excellent 
 place, with a prospect of promotion, and I don't 
 know why," contemplatively, "you would not do. 
 You have certain traits of character," continued the 
 Chief Magistrate, as if thinking aloud, "which
 
 396 ZACHARY PHI PS. 
 
 would be of value. You have had a varied experi- 
 ence, and," picking up the memorial from the desk 
 before him, "if this is your work, you write an ex- 
 cellent hand, no contemptible accomplishment in 
 a secretary." 
 
 The President paused with an expectant air, as if 
 to allow the recipient of this flattering offer a chance 
 to express his thanks. The recipient, his forehead 
 contorted with a scowl of perplexity, stood without 
 a word. 
 
 The speaker, with a growing look of surprise, 
 went on, 
 
 "Mr. Rush is my personal friend. A word from 
 me would suffice. In your case, contrary to my 
 custom, I am willing to waive the matter of re- 
 ferences, so strongly am I impressed with your 
 fitness." 
 
 Zach was still silent. 
 
 "Well, sir, what do you say? " 
 
 "I cannot accept it." 
 
 " Sir ! " The Chief Magistrate clearly did not be- 
 lieve his ears. 
 
 "Your Excellency will excuse me. I have been 
 thinking over this matter since I was here. I have 
 heard some talk about the Seminole War and Gen- 
 eral Jackson's behavior, a good deal of talk. I 
 hear that the matter is coming up in Congress, that 
 the general is coming here, and that there is likely 
 to be a great row about it." 
 
 "What then?" 
 
 " Why, I know a good deal about this matter, 
 things the public don't know. I know General
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 397 
 
 Jackson was all wrong; that he acted more like a 
 bandit than a soldier." 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 "Well, if I accept this position, at your at the 
 hands of the Government, they '11 say 't was a price 
 paid for holding my tongue." 
 
 For a fleeting moment the President looked dis- 
 concerted. It cost him an effort to rally, and when 
 he did, it was with an assumption of dignity in 
 striking contrast to his former simplicity of manner. 
 
 Looking at Zach a moment, he considered what 
 course to pursue. He decided promptly, and with 
 characteristic shrewdness. "Mr. Phips, take this 
 chair, please," pointing to a seat quite close to him. 
 "I want to have a little confidential talk with you." 
 
 Zach moved as requested. 
 
 "My dear young man, I need n't tell anybody who 
 has seen so much of the world as you that in Gov- 
 ernment matters, in affairs relating to the interests 
 of a great people, we have to deal with questions 
 largely, that is, in a broad and comprehensive man- 
 ner. We must sink out of sight all personal con- 
 siderations, and think only of the honor and welfare 
 of the nation." 
 
 The listener looked as if put upon his guard by 
 this exordium. 
 
 "Now," continued the watchful statesman, "in 
 regard to this Florida matter, General Jackson 
 may have been all right or all wrong ; that is en- 
 tirely aside from the point. The point is, that the 
 whole affair is now a matter of history. The harm 
 (if harm there was) is done and cannot be undone.
 
 398 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 It came about, moreover, by what may prove to 
 have been a misunderstanding, under color of 
 authority from the United States Government. 
 Meantime, there can be no doubt that General Jack- 
 son has done his country a great, an inestimable 
 service. Granting, then, that there was no want 
 of good faith in anybody concerned, we are bound, 
 as patriots and statesmen, to accept and justify the 
 general's action as best we can." 
 
 Zach looked unconvinced by this clever presenta- 
 tion of the case. 
 
 "It may help us to a decision to consider," pur- 
 sued the President, "that whatever General Jack- 
 son did, he thought he was right; that there was no 
 intentional wrong-doing. For the rest, it behooves 
 us to leave the Spanish and British Governments to 
 fight their own battles." 
 
 The listener hitched in his chair, and looked 
 troubled. 
 
 "It becomes us furthermore, as Americans and 
 patriots, in case we are wrong, which I by no 
 means concede, to make the best we can of a bad 
 bargain. It is not a matter, mind you, of protect- 
 ing General Jackson, but of safeguarding the honor 
 and dignity of the United States." 
 
 With a look of increased perplexity, Zach sat 
 pondering the matter for several minutes. Then 
 suddenly asked, 
 
 "But what has all this to do with the question of 
 my going to England? " 
 
 "Much, or nothing at all, as the case happens to 
 turn. I will not disguise from you that there is
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 399 
 
 likely to be a very rigid inquiry into this business. 
 Everybody who can throw any light on it will be 
 dragged to the witness-stand, where they will be 
 handled without gloves. If you stay about here, 
 your knowledge of and participation in the matter 
 can hardly remain a secret, and you cannot hope to 
 escape." 
 
 "It is the farthest from my intention to escape," 
 a little haughtily. 
 
 "Very true, very true; but the story you tell, 
 very graphic and pertinent as it is, instead of 
 helping things to a settlement, will tend rather to 
 embroil us in a useless and damaging discussion, of 
 which England and Spain will not fail to take in- 
 stant advantage." 
 
 "But my duty"- 
 
 " Tut, tut ; you have no duty but the duty of si- 
 lence. You have to play but one part : the part of 
 a patriot who serves his country in the hour of her 
 need. It is veritably an hour of need, an hour for 
 cool heads, for calm forbearance, for caution, for 
 self-restraint. This may well prove a graver busi- 
 ness than it seems. Without the wisest handling it 
 is capable of leading to a war with one or both of 
 these foreign nations. Are you beginning to see 
 my meaning? " 
 
 The listener nodded with a look of reservation. 
 
 "With regard to you, your acceptance of this 
 position is a small thing, a minor matter, and quite 
 independent of this public business. Somebody has 
 to be appointed. I find in you every qualification 
 for the position. On that ground, and in regard
 
 400 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 for your meritorious service in the navy, I appoint 
 you." 
 
 Swallowing drop by drop this specious draught, 
 Zach felt the virus of temptation working in his 
 veins. 
 
 Noting this effect, the President shrewdly put an 
 end to the interview. 
 
 "Take time to think it over, Mr. Phips," rising 
 and offering his hand; "there is no pressing haste. 
 It is not a step to be taken in the dark. Good 
 morning. Let me know when you make up your 
 mind!" 
 
 It proved no easy thing for Zach to make up 
 his mind. His mind was not in good malleable 
 trim. It seemed to grow fixed and stiffened in 
 doubt. It needed impulse or illumination from 
 without. 
 
 Monsieur, of course, seemed the natural resource, 
 but the cautious little attorney had shown such re- 
 serve on the first consultation as to discourage fur- 
 ther confidences. The truth is, Monsieur was him- 
 self engaged on a business so difficult and delicate 
 that he could not afford to antagonize any strong 
 influence by taking sides on so absorbing a matter 
 as the Florida question. 
 
 Moreover, he was very busy. He had intermina- 
 ble depositions to copy relating to the destruction 
 of the Basswood estate. In this work, Zach, hav- 
 ing nothing else to do, volunteered his services, 
 which Monsieur only too gladly accepted. 
 
 Thus it happened that he was in Monsieur's room 
 a good part of every day. The Frenchman's papers
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 401 
 
 and letters lay open to his inspection. Preoccupied 
 with his own affairs, he had no curiosity as to his 
 friend's, and mechanically copied the page before 
 him without a thought as to its significance. 
 
 Coming in one day after dinner to resume work, 
 he found an extra leaf in Monsieur's handwriting. 
 Was it to be inserted? From the opening clause it 
 was impossible to decide. He read on. Presently 
 he started as if stung. His eyes grew bright with 
 excitement. The blood rushed to his head. He 
 had been reading a passage from a private letter 
 which the lawyer had left open and unfinished on 
 the table : 
 
 " With all these men and influences in your favor 
 I hope for the best results from the incoming Con- 
 gress. You may count upon my taking advantage 
 of every point in your interests. For the rest, I am 
 glad to hear of your decision to remain in London. 
 I am sure it will prove best for your health and 
 comfort. It makes me feel old to hear of Sylvia's 
 appearance in society. How the years fly ! 
 
 " ' Qui sait si nous serons demain ! ' 
 
 "Ah, mon ami, what success she will have! 
 What hearts she will wring! Tell the petite she 
 has another father here who will rejoice in her tri- 
 umphs! " 
 
 The impulse and illumination from without had 
 been found. Next day Zach announced to Presi- 
 dent Monroe his determination to go to London as 
 Mr. Rush's secretary.
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 IN contempt of question, coincidences sometimes 
 occur in real life as well as in fiction. The fact, 
 therefore, that Zach on the very day he announced 
 his decision to President Monroe received by the 
 morning's mail three letters, should be thought no 
 more remarkable than that some mere hero of a 
 novel should have received them to help out the 
 exigencies of the plot. 
 
 Zach himself, to be sure, was not a little aston- 
 ished. It was indeed a very unusual occurrence, 
 inasmuch as weeks and months often rolled by, dur- 
 ing which the postman seemed to have forgotten his 
 existence. 
 
 The three letters in appearance there were but 
 two, for Sandy's contained an inclosure proved 
 each in its different way of vital interest. The first 
 opened was from the Boston postmaster, announcing 
 that he had received a very fair offer for the malt- 
 house property, which as an experienced dealer in 
 real estate he seriously advised should be accepted. 
 
 Sandy's letter, which came next, was on the very 
 same subject, but, oddly enough, to quite a different 
 effect. It was written in apparent excitement, and 
 was needlessly discursive, but the gist of it may be 
 found in the following passage, 
 
 "I begin to think the old man knowd what he
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 403 
 
 was a-doin of, makin that will. I mean about that 
 land of yourn. They re arter it sharp; the post- 
 master will rite an tell ye, but dont do nothin 
 he says. He menes well, but acordin to my lites, 
 he don know no more'n a blind porgy. The way 
 of it is this. Soon as he got the offer he sent word 
 round to me, an I thought it sounded all rite, too, 
 but that very afternoon, I was down to White & 
 Co.s, the fokes that air handlin our coton, an we 
 fell a talkin about things, an I sed Boston's gittin 
 to be a big town, an sez he, the old man White 
 was talkin, Yes, tis, but nothin to what its goin 
 to be. New wharves is goin to be built on all this 
 land round here. Dock Square is goin to be cov- 
 ered with big warehouses. Sho ! sez I. Sure as 
 fate, sez he. Theres two big blocks a-goin up on 
 this side, an some pooty sharp fokes is tradin for 
 that ther land over yender, pintin his finger right 
 over to your property. I guess you dont want no 
 hint after that, to know what to do. I forgot to tell 
 ye a letter come for ye a spell ago, from New Or- 
 leans, an I stick it in here." 
 
 The New Orleans letter was written in an angu- 
 lar, unpracticed hand, and was very brief : 
 
 KIND FRIEND, A word comes to me that you 
 go not to Nassau ; that you go far north, to the land 
 of the Algonquins; that you come back no more. 
 My people have faded away. The Place is empty, 
 and nothing is heard but the song of the river and 
 the voice of the winter wind which says to me, Go, 
 follow on to the world of spirits.
 
 404 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 White men come and go away, but there is no 
 word for Malee, no voice like that of my friend, 
 which I hear always in the sunshine, on the hills, 
 in the tree-tops, at night when the breath of the 
 Great Spirit moves them. "Will that voice never 
 sound in my ears again? I wait. 
 
 Excited not a little by the first two letters, Zach 
 found in the third a distraction. It served as a 
 counter-irritant. He was very much moved by it, 
 but whether emotionally or intellectually was not at 
 once apparent. His face showed signs of perplex- 
 ity, of annoyance mingled with profound compas- 
 sion. He cut short his packing and walked the 
 floor ; he went down to dinner with a moody face, 
 and gave no heed to the lively chatter about him. 
 
 Going back to his room, he spent the whole after- 
 noon answering the letter. He began by telling of 
 his new plans of life ; of his approaching departure, 
 and the uncertainty of his return. He then went 
 on to repeat the excellent advice he had before given 
 to his correspondent, to wit, that she should return 
 to her own people and busy herself with the welfare 
 and interests of her tribe. He added some kind 
 and sympathetic words expressive of his interest in 
 her happiness, and concluded by regretting that such 
 a vast distance was henceforth to separate him from 
 so good and so faithful a friend. 
 
 Having dispatched this admirable letter, his fore- 
 head straightway cleared. A load, as it seemed, 
 was taken from his mind, and he addressed himself 
 with returning cheerfulness to the preparations for 
 his departure.
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 405 
 
 Early the following morning, he went again to 
 wait upon Mr. Monroe. The President received 
 him with an air almost benignant, and when handing 
 him his credentials, added a word of friendly advice. 
 
 While Zach stood listening in an attitude of 
 respectful attention, his roving eye fell upon another 
 letter lying upon the table, directed, "Hon. Richard 
 Rush, United States Minister, near the Court of 
 St. James, London, England." 
 
 Here was his first lesson in practical diplomacy. 
 He learned it with a readiness which augured well 
 for his future success. In his hand was the make- 
 believe, there on the desk was the real letter of in- 
 troduction. He was so devoured with curiosity to 
 know how they differed, that he heard nothing of the 
 Chief Magistrate's parting homily. 
 
 Next day Monsieur stood upon the porch with 
 Zach when the stage-coach rattled up. As he bade 
 his young friend an affectionate good-by, he drew 
 forth a thick packet directed to Falconer, which 
 he asked Zach to deliver in person on arriving in 
 London. 
 
 Zach flushed and hesitated, but the preoccupied 
 little attorney, never dreaming of any objection, had 
 already thrust the packet into his hands in such a 
 matter-of-course way that it was impossible to refuse. 
 
 Nothing happened to signalize his journey to 
 Boston. On arriving, he lost no time in hunting 
 iip Sandy, who between his delight at seeing his 
 friend so unexpectedly returned, and his struggle to 
 maintain a seamanlike composure, swallowed his 
 quid, thereby bringing on a paroxysm of coughing
 
 406 ZACDARY PHIPS. 
 
 which prevented him from returning Zach's noisy 
 salute in any other way than by a vise-like grip of 
 the hand. 
 
 Afterwards, in a mutual interchange of confi- 
 dences over their evening meal of fresh lobster, cold 
 boiled beef, ale, and ship's bread, in the cabin of the 
 "Malviny," the skipper's stoicism was put to a still 
 severer test on learning Zach's purpose of going 
 abroad. 
 
 "Wall, Bub, it's all right, I s'pose; it's nateral 
 enough fer you to want ter go, an' I guess ye 'd 
 better. Fact on 't is, nobody ever knows what he 
 doos want tel he has knocked round an' bumped up 
 agin things hisself. But I 've ben through it, an' 
 I tell ye, youngster, th' ain't no better country 'n 
 ourn, an' th' ain't no better fokes now'eres than 
 our own fokes." 
 
 Thereupon Zach explained as fully, perhaps, as he 
 had acknowledged them to himself, his motives and 
 purpose in going abroad. It is significant that he 
 did not include in this explanation all the facts re- 
 lating to his appointment. Happily, it seemed a 
 matter of course to the skipper that Zach should step 
 without aid or influence from one honorable employ- 
 ment to another. 
 
 Next morning betimes, in company with Sandy, 
 Zach went around again to view the malthouse 
 property. With the confirmatory hint from White 
 & Co., the place now took on quite a different as- 
 pect. The whole neighborhood bristled with oppor- 
 tunities. Progress lurked in every dirty alley round 
 about, ready to stalk forth and to convert the squalid
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 407 
 
 neighborhood into the most flourishing commercial 
 quarter of the town. 
 
 Sandy, who in his letter had shown a keen in- 
 terest in the matter, now, in speculating upon the 
 probabilities of value under the changed conditions, 
 became feverishly excited, lapsed into a profound 
 silence, put in quid after quid, and strode restlessly 
 over the lot in a futile effort, as it seemed, to sat- 
 urate it with tobacco juice. 
 
 On the way back to the wharf, they dropped in to 
 see the postmaster. That worthy functionary, in- 
 terrupted in the act of taking a first reading of one 
 of the foreign journals passing through the office, 
 delayed not to introduce the subject of the real 
 estate, and repeated with unction the advice given 
 in his letter. 
 
 The skipper was seized with another fit of cough- 
 ing, and fidgeted in his chair. 
 
 He had no need. Zach, recalling the method of 
 Peter Cook, behaved with the aplomb of a veteran. 
 As the postmaster became warm in urging his opin- 
 ion the owner grew more indifferent, and, indeed, 
 quite disinclined to part with the estate, referring 
 with great effect to the sentiments and associations 
 connected with a spot known to him from earliest 
 childhood. 
 
 Sandy, who had put in three quids in five minutes, 
 here emitted a sound like that of stifled cachin- 
 nation, and strode in some embarrassment to the 
 window. 
 
 They came away, leaving the postmaster filled with 
 apprehensions that the bargain would fall through.
 
 408 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 The Peter Cook tactics bore speedy fruit. Early 
 next day the postmaster came to pay them a visit 
 on board the "Malviny." 
 
 Zach was seated on deck, smoking his pipe. 
 Sandy, noting the arrival, lost no time in working 
 round into earshot. 
 
 The visitor, after remarking that it was a fine 
 day, that it was unusual weather for the season, that 
 the wind was going to get round into the northwest 
 by and by, suddenly broke out, 
 
 "'Bout that business yesterday, cap'n." 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 "Haven't made up your mind to take my offer 
 yet, I s'pose? " 
 
 Zach shook his head. 
 
 "Do you want to sell that property, anyway?" 
 
 "Hm-m!" Zach yawned most effectively. "I 
 don't know. I ain't in any great hurry about it. 
 Perhaps I 'd better let it be till I get back." 
 
 "You goin' away?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Goin' to be gone some time?" 
 
 "No-o; well, that is, two or three years, per- 
 haps." 
 
 "Don't say!" a faint trace of agitation on the 
 part of the postmaster. "Goin' far off?" 
 
 "To Europe!" 
 
 "The d er deuce! That is a long way off. 
 Well, now, Mr. Phips, it 's none of my business, 
 but I should think you 'd want to get rid of that 
 property before you went. I it 's rather risky. 
 I don't know what Mr. what my party will say,
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 409 
 
 but I '11 take the responsibility of offering er 
 four thousand dollars. Come, what do you say ? " 
 
 Zach shook his head with a pitying smile, which 
 would have done credit to Peter Cook himself. 
 
 "Oh, well, then, I 've got through. I guess you 
 don't want to sell very bad." 
 
 Zach and the skipper exchanged glances as the 
 discomfited factor withdrew, and refilled their pipes. 
 
 "I '11 gin thet feller half an hour ter come back," 
 said Sandy, pressing down the bulging coals in .the 
 top of his pipe. 
 
 But the skipper had underestimated the agent's 
 adroitness ; it was full three hours before he reap- 
 peared. The interview which followed thereupon 
 was very short. 
 
 "Mr. Phips," said the factor, coming straight to 
 the point, "I 've come back to make you one more 
 offer for that prop'ty. My folks say they '11 give 
 forty -five hundred dollars. It 's a heap of money, 
 an' I don't know what they 're thinkin' of, but 
 that 's their lookout." 
 
 "I won't take it," said Zach promptly. 
 
 The postmaster stared in real or affected amaze- 
 ment. 
 
 "Refuse four thou-s-a-n-d five hundred dollars! " 
 he at last ejaculated, with a truly artistic accent and 
 expression. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 Sandy, hacking away at his plug, seemed in doubt 
 whether to fill his pipe or his mouth, but ended in 
 filling both. 
 
 "Oh, well," the good man interjected ironical
 
 410 ZACHARY PHI PS. 
 
 little bursts of laughter between every two or three 
 words, with an effect which can be only hinted at, 
 "as I said before, you don't want to trade very bad. 
 I don't see what you expect. P'raps you think 
 you 've got a gold mine over there. However, 
 that 's your business; this is a free country, and 
 you can do as you like. What ship you goin' in? " 
 
 "The Twin Sisters." 
 
 "When does she sail?" 
 
 "Expects to get off to-morrow." 
 
 "To-morrow! " 
 
 A little look of consternation passed over the post- 
 master's seasoned face as he stepped down into his 
 boat. Sandy looked after him, as he rowed away, 
 with a satisfied nod, and went back to his work 
 without a word of comment. 
 
 Just before sunset, the boat was seen coming back 
 again. The postmaster looked a little shamefaced, 
 and thought, perhaps, to give his visit a less signifi- 
 cant look by remaining in his boat. He stumbled 
 a little over his explanation. 
 
 "I come back I was thinking er we 'd like 
 to know, Cap'n Phips, what you will take for that 
 land?" 
 
 "Ten thousand dollars! " 
 
 "Je-e-rusalem! " 
 
 This time the good man's astonishment was un- 
 feigned. Rallying in a minute, with a feeble laugh 
 he ejaculated, 
 
 "Of course, you 're joking." 
 
 "Not a bit." 
 
 Sandy, meantime, sat with averted face and every
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 411 
 
 nerve under iron control, but it was evident, from 
 a movement under his whiskers, that the saliva in 
 his throat had all dried up from pure agitation. 
 
 Meantime, the postmaster was taking his leave, 
 this time in good earnest. 
 
 "I say, cap'n," he projected for a parting shaft, 
 "if you ever do make up your mind you really want 
 to sell, let me know. Good day! Hope you'll 
 have a good voyage ! " 
 
 "Wall," said Sandy, as the boat pulled out of 
 earshot, "that fish is tired o' bitin'." 
 
 There was a distinct note of regret in the skipper's 
 voice, and it was clear he thought Zach had carried 
 his bluffing policy too far. 
 
 Next morning, as the pair sat at breakfast in the 
 little cabin, word was brought that a stranger had 
 come aboard to see Mr. Phips. 
 
 "Bitin' agin," cried the skipper, with kindling 
 eyes. "Now, look out, Bub! don't let 'em slip the 
 hook agin ! " 
 
 Zach finished breakfast at his leisure, and came 
 on deck with a look of unconcern. 
 
 The stranger, who proved to be the postmaster's 
 principal, was a shrewd-looking Boston merchant. 
 Introducing himself and his business with an im- 
 pressive air, he showed a disposition to skirmish. 
 Zach cut him mercilessly short. 
 
 "Excuse me, I am to sail for England to-day. 
 My things are not yet aboard ship. I have no time 
 to talk. I gave your agent my price for this land. 
 I will not take a penny less, and I will have no more 
 words about it."
 
 412 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 
 
 Whereupon, turning on his heel, he went down 
 again into the cabin. Sandy, who still sat at the 
 table, looked up aghast at this evidence that the 
 bargain was again off. 
 
 Zach, plunging into the hurly-burly of his state- 
 room, began to pack. Directly, the stranger was 
 at his side again. 
 
 "Mr. Phips, give me three minutes' time! " 
 
 "Not a minute!" 
 
 Sandy looked ready to explode. 
 
 "Won't, eh? Well, I '11 take them whether you 
 will or not. You ask ten thousand dollars for that 
 scrap of land around there. It 's an outrage, it 's 
 highway robbery, but I 've got to have it, and I '11 
 give the money. Come along, then," he concluded 
 peremptorily. "Come to the Squire's and get the 
 deed made! " 
 
 "Not I! " said Zach composedly. 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "I told you I have no time to spare, and I will 
 not go a step out of my way to make this bargain." 
 
 The tradesman looked apoplectic. Sandy, unable 
 longer to contain himself, got up and strode out of 
 the cabin. 
 
 "If you bring the deed and money to me here 
 before I get ready to leave, well and good," contin- 
 ued Zach, busily stowing away shirts and shoes and 
 underwear indiscriminately; "I will sign it, and 
 the land is yours ; otherwise you are giving yourself 
 unnecessary trouble." 
 
 With a loud oath the stranger bounced out of the 
 cabin. In two minutes more he was clear of the
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 413 
 
 schooner. In an hour he was back again with deed 
 and money. In twenty minutes the thing was done, 
 Zach, with commendable prudence, having first read 
 the deed and counted the money. 
 
 Thus in the twinkling of an eye, from a poor man 
 he had become rich. He felt a sudden giddiness as 
 he stood watching the boat row away, and walking 
 aft, sat down and put his hand to his head.
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 AT the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor, Zach re- 
 ceived his first impression of England, a profound 
 and striking impression. 
 
 Besides the docks and storehouses, which were 
 surprising enough, there was the forest of merchant 
 shipping flying the flags of every nation ; there were 
 the amazing arsenals, batteries, and fortifications, 
 and the formidable array of line-of -battle ships and 
 frigates. For the first time he realized the hardihood 
 of the Yankees in daring to go to war with a nation 
 having resources like these. All the more, he re- 
 flected with pride upon the result. 
 
 Once landed, he lost no time in getting up to 
 London, where upon recommendation, he took tem- 
 porary lodgings in a quiet house in Conduit Street. 
 
 London awoke in him a wonder and admiration 
 which caused Portsmouth to be forgotten. The 
 shops and houses, standing in actual contact, and 
 extending for miles in every direction ; the endless, 
 never-ceasing, never-lessening crowds, coming no 
 one knew whence and going no one cared whither; 
 the deafening roar of the endless procession of vehi- 
 cles, from the humble push-cart of the bawling chap- 
 man to the thundering coach and six, manned by 
 fat drivers in triangular hats and tassels, and sleepy 
 footmen sporting cockades and canes, never had
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 415 
 
 Zach's provincial wit conceived of anything so 
 grand, so droll, so infinitely diverting. 
 
 In the houses, he was greatly disappointed. Did 
 fine lords and ladies and people of fashion live in 
 these plain, smoky brick dwellings? He hardly 
 knew what he expected, but it was certainly some- 
 thing quite different from these. 
 
 In the way of public buildings there were some 
 satisfying exceptions, as he found later when he had 
 occasion to cross from the West End and go into 
 the city proper by way of Temple Bar, and along 
 Fleet Street, Cheapside, and Ludgate Hill, in the 
 direction of the Tower, where the Lord Mayor's 
 palace, the Bank, India House, and the Royal Ex- 
 change surpassed his largest expectations. 
 
 His first bewildering impressions having in time 
 given way to better regulated notions of the life 
 about him, he saw the need in some sort of adapting 
 himself to it. 
 
 With this intent he went on a round of the trades- 
 men, and was duly decked out in a long-skirted blue 
 coat trimmed with brass buttons, a white waistcoat, 
 a ruffled shirt of finest cambric, a standing collar, 
 a voluminous cravat of snowy lawn, tight breeches, 
 gaiters, and a tall, bell-crowned hat of white beaver. 
 
 Thus equipped, he set out one morning to wait 
 upon Mr. Rush. He found him in a quarter of the 
 town which he had not yet seen, namely, Maryle- 
 bone parish, north of Oxford Road. The minis- 
 ter's house was situated on Baker Street, a locality, 
 as he afterwards learned, much frequented by mem- 
 bers of the diplomatic body.
 
 416 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 It had the same gloomy aspect as other parts of 
 the town which he had seen, on account of the 
 wearying uniformity of its architecture. There 
 were everywhere the same smoky brick houses, to 
 which here a needless sepulchral effect had been 
 added by the dusty iron palings which guarded the 
 areas and the heavy railings of the same uncom- 
 promising material which adorned the brown stone 
 doorsteps. 
 
 Forbidding without, these dingy dwellings had, 
 as the visitor presently discovered, an inviting air 
 of comfort and luxury within, with their white stone 
 staircases, solid furniture, and sumptuous hangings. 
 
 Arrived at the door, Zach drew forth his card- 
 case, an elegance which he had adopted since his 
 arrival in the metropolis, and, with a conscious 
 air which well-nigh betrayed him to the footman, 
 sent up his name to Mr. Rush. 
 
 That gentleman, who promptly appeared, and 
 greeted him in the most cordial fashion, proved to 
 be a handsome man in the prime of life, with ingra- 
 tiating manners and an unexpected air of distinc- 
 tion. 
 
 As Zach was to be immediately attached to the 
 minister's person, he was taken at once into the 
 family, a servant was sent to Conduit Street for his 
 luggage, and meanwhile, Mr. Rush took the first 
 step towards making him feel at home by giving 
 him a general notion of his duties, the persons with 
 whom he would be brought in contact, and the eti- 
 quette to be maintained in his intercourse with 
 them.
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 417 
 
 It was evident from the curious and interested 
 looks with which, while he talked, the minister re- 
 garded his young secretary, that the President's 
 private and confidential letter had already been re- 
 ceived, and Zach felt a stirring of his former curi- 
 osity with regard to its contents. 
 
 "And the Secretary of State," said Mr. Rush, 
 after hearing Zach's account of his last interview 
 with the President, "did he intrust you with any 
 inclosure for me? " 
 
 Zach replied with a blank look, and a shake of 
 the head. 
 
 "But you saw you called on Mr. Adams be- 
 fore coming away? " 
 
 "No-o." 
 
 " Humph ! He knew, of course, of your coming 
 to me from the President? " 
 
 "I don't know." 
 
 Mr. Rush controlled his arching eyebrows, and 
 repressing a dawning look of astonishment, adroitly 
 changed the subject. 
 
 The bewildered secretary reflected with mortifica- 
 tion that lie was still in the A B C's of diplomacy. 
 
 At luncheon the new attache* was introduced to 
 the family: Mrs. Rush and four small children, 
 who, contrary to English notions, were brought to 
 the table with their elders. Mrs. Rush was very 
 gracious, but had so much to say of the former 
 secretary, Colonel Taylor of Virginia, that Zach 
 was filled with misgivings as to how he should ever 
 succeed in taking the place of such an accomplished 
 person.
 
 418 ZACH AST PH1PS. 
 
 After having become duly settled in his office, the 
 new secretary one day dressed himself with great 
 care, and went to wait upon Mr. Falconer. 
 
 "Grosvenor Square," written upon Monsieur's 
 package, proved to be quite the most beautiful bit 
 of London he had seen ; to wit, a large garden of 
 six or more acres laid out with picturesque walks 
 and shrubberies, embellished by a gilt equestrian 
 statue of George I., and surrounded on every side 
 by magnificent private dwellings. 
 
 Here, next door to the Earl of Westmoreland, 
 then a prominent member of the Cabinet, lived 
 his old employer, in the finest house Zach had ever 
 been in. 
 
 Falconer showed himself quite at home in the 
 midst of his magnificence, and Zach could not help 
 thinking how well his assured air harmonized with 
 it all. 
 
 Even the little touch of condescension in his man- 
 ner seemed in place, as was also the indifference with 
 which, while promptly recognizing his visitor, he 
 failed to note the metamorphosis which had been 
 wrought in him. 
 
 Civilly expressing his thanks for the trouble taken 
 in transmitting the packet, he made no apology 
 for opening it. While examining its contents he 
 perfunctorily questioned the bearer: when had he 
 arrived in London ? Was this his first visit ? How 
 long did he purpose staying? 
 
 To Zach's circumstantial account of his appoint- 
 ment in the household of the American minister, of 
 which he heard not a word, he replied absently,
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 419 
 
 "So, indeed! and Monsieur Lescomt, you left him 
 in Washington?" rising, as he spoke, to ring the 
 bell. 
 
 When the servant appeared, he ordered some 
 wine, which the visitor on being served very stiffly 
 refused. 
 
 Not until he rose to go did Zach muster courage, 
 and then with very evident embarrassment, to ask 
 after the family. 
 
 "Family," echoed Falconer, with a disconcerting 
 inflection. 
 
 "Miss Sylvia!" 
 
 "Miss Falconer? Thank you, she is well." 
 
 Altogether, Zach took his leave with a defeated 
 air. On the way back he realized how long he had 
 been counting on this interview, and how much he 
 had expected from it. 
 
 He summed up the matter in its bald reality. 
 He admitted no illusions. Although civilly re- 
 ceived, he had been so effectually snubbed that he 
 could never go again. Before reaching Baker 
 Street, his stuffed bosom was seething with indig- 
 nation, wounded pride, and divers other disturbing 
 passions. 
 
 Moreover, if the entire truth be told, combined 
 with the heavier emotions above enumerated, there 
 was mingled a feeling of stupefaction that a person 
 so glorified by London finery and a functionary so 
 distinguished by the confidence of his Government 
 could be thus coolly contemned. 
 
 Luckily, in his new position there was small lei- 
 sure to brood upon these things. Every hour was
 
 420 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 filled. A multitude of details must be learned. 
 The new secretary, therefore, had perforce to shake 
 off his vapors and to apply himself with vigor. 
 
 He soon showed his mettle. That is to say, in 
 the ordinary routine of his duties he could be trusted 
 to act with common sense. His watchful superior, 
 noting this rarest of all qualifications, presently be- 
 gan to take him into closer confidence and into con- 
 sultations upon matters of moment. 
 
 Besides serious official duties there were other 
 and lighter requirements attached to his position. 
 After a little he was included in certain social invi- 
 tations. Upon occasion, when her husband was busy 
 or indisposed, he escorted Mrs. Rush to routs, to 
 concerts, or to the theatre. Participating, too, in 
 all domestic festivities, he little by little acquired a 
 familiarity with etiquette which enabled him to re- 
 call with amusement his old Nassau experience. 
 
 It fell to him one evening to escort Mrs. Rush to 
 the Covent Garden Theatre. He had not been to 
 a play-house before since he went to see Kean in 
 New York. He looked about, with the eager delight 
 of a novice, upon the brilliant decorations of the 
 house, the gayly-dressed audience. 
 
 Mrs. Rush, nodding to acquaintances on every 
 side, pointed out in an undertone the celebrities. 
 The secretary did not heed her; his eyes were fixed 
 with a glare of indignation upon the drop-curtain, 
 where were depicted facsimiles of the flags of all 
 the nations which had been conquered in war by 
 Great Britain. Amongst these trophies he recog- 
 nized the stars and stripes.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 421 
 
 lie was only recalled to himself by the rising of 
 the obnoxious curtain and the entrance upon the 
 scene of the famous Miss O'Neil as Bianca. Then, 
 indeed, everything was speedily forgotten. 
 
 When the curtain at last fell upon the third act, 
 relieved from the strain of attention, Zach suffered 
 his eyes to wander about the house, and bethought 
 him that here were gathered the beauty, wit, and 
 fashion of the greatest city in Europe. 
 
 Meantime, Mrs. Rush, commenting upon the 
 play, presently found that she was not heeded. 
 Turning about, she discovered that the eyes of her 
 escort were riveted upon a party in a neighboring 
 box : an elderly man, accompanied by a young and 
 elegantly dressed woman. 
 
 "How beautiful! do you know who she is?" 
 
 The involuntary exclamation was the most elo- 
 quent form of tribute. 
 
 Deaf to the question, and oblivious as it seemed 
 of the very presence of his companion, Zach gazed 
 as if transfixed at the pair in the box. 
 
 After a little, the young woman turned about and 
 leisurely surveyed the house. Her eyes fell in turn 
 upon the trembling secretary and calmly passed him 
 by. Again they traversed the circle, and again 
 encountered the gaze of the agitated young man. 
 Unable longer to control himself, he rose from his 
 seat. 
 
 Directly, a lightning-like change passed over the 
 girl's face. Her cheeks flushed. She too started, 
 and barely stifled an exclamation. Again Zach 
 rose, and unheeding time or place stretched out his
 
 422 ZACIIARY PHIPS. 
 
 hands. At that moment, with a flourish of music, 
 the curtain rose upon the fourth act. Mrs. Rush 
 called upon her escort for some service. His atten- 
 tion was momentarily distracted. When he looked 
 again towards the box, Sylvia had disappeared.
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 AMONG the notable persons with whom Zach was 
 brought in contact through his position at the 
 embassy was his own famous compatriot, the presi- 
 dent of the Royal Academy. 
 
 Sir Benjamin West was in the opinion of the 
 day a genius. Zach, who had rudimentary notions 
 of art, knew no better. Neither, it seems, from 
 his own confession, did Mr. Rush himself. Neither, 
 for the matter of that, did the rank and file of his 
 well-informed and clever countrymen. No Ameri- 
 can of the last century, indeed, presumed to have 
 an opinion upon art. It may seem ground of 
 regret to enlightened critics of our civilization that 
 we have ever shifted from that wholesome and 
 tractable state of innocence. 
 
 As the worthy Quaker artist had in the course of 
 a laborious life filled some vast stretches of canvas 
 with uninspired scenes from Scripture and history 
 which the world regarded with wonder, he had 
 grown correspondingly rich and famous, and had 
 thus become a natural object of admiration to his 
 countrymen. 
 
 It chanced upon one of his visits to Baker Street 
 that the old gentleman took note of the young sec- 
 retary, and thinking, perhaps, to make use of his 
 striking features and stalwart figure in a historical
 
 424 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 painting then in hand, invited him with such cor- 
 diality to his studio that Zach could find no good 
 excuse for not going. 
 
 Accordingly, on his next outing, he took occasion 
 to present himself at the artist's door. Entering, 
 he stopped awestruck near the threshold. It was a 
 scene well fitted to impress the layman: the walls 
 covered with huge canvases, the easels, the hangings, 
 the plaster casts and other curious lumber disposed 
 about a large room, in the midst of which stood the 
 venerable painter, with his top-heavy wig, his loose 
 gown, and his bent figure, talking with impressive 
 emphasis to a party of visitors. 
 
 As the group in its circuit of the room approached 
 him, Zach, not yet cured of his shyness, busied him- 
 self with- an unfinished canvas on the easel, when, 
 interrupting the painter's purling discourse, he 
 heard the sound of a familiar voice, and the next 
 moment felt a light touch upon his arm. 
 
 He turned, and found himself face to face with 
 the breathless Sylvia. 
 
 For a moment neither spoke. Meantime, Fal- 
 coner, accompanied by the artist, advanced up the 
 room, seeming not to remark his daughter's move- 
 ment. Sir Benjamin was the last to recognize the 
 new-comer, and unconsciously complicated an al- 
 ready awkward situation. 
 
 "Ah! 'T is you! Glad to see you! Mr. 
 Phips, Miss Falconer, Mr. Falconer. One of my 
 own countrymen, sir; a young gentleman of much 
 talent, connected with the American embassy." 
 
 Looking courtesy and benevolence personified,
 
 ZACHARY PHIP8. 425 
 
 Falconer bowed from a Himalayan altitude, dropped 
 an appropriate word, and passed on. Sylvia, de- 
 spite a summoning look from her father, lingered 
 for a moment's talk. 
 
 "You saw me at the theatre?" 
 
 " Yes I but you went so suddenly " 
 
 "Papa wanted to go. The play bored him. But 
 I was so astonished I did n't know When did 
 you come to London? " 
 
 "A month ago." 
 
 "Why did you not let us know? " 
 
 "I went to your house." 
 
 "To Grosvenor Square?" 
 
 "To be sure." 
 
 " And we were out? " 
 
 "No." 
 
 "No?" 
 
 "I saw your father." 
 
 "Papa? and he did not you did not ask for 
 me." 
 
 "I did." 
 
 "But why" 
 
 "He said you were well, and" 
 
 "And"- 
 
 " Bo wed me out." 
 
 "Sylvia!" 
 
 Notwithstanding its calm pitch, there was an im- 
 perative note in the voice. 
 
 "Yes, papa." 
 
 "'T is time we were going." 
 
 "When shall we where can I see you again? " 
 
 "Sylvia!"
 
 426 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 "Yes, papa. You have come to London to live, 
 did Sir Benjamin say? At the American embassy? 
 How did you ever Oh, I am so glad! " 
 
 "My dear, I am waiting." 
 
 " I am coming, papa. Good-by, good-by Za I 
 mean Mr. Phips. When shall we when will 
 you Good-by ! " 
 
 The Falconers gone, the kindly old artist gave 
 Zach the history of much of the misdirected effort 
 on the walls about them. 
 
 The explanation was thrown away. Other voices 
 were sounding in the young man's ears, other 
 thoughts were surging through his brain. London 
 had suddenly become a bigger, brighter world. 
 Muddy streets, cloudy skies, and dingy houses were 
 forgotten, and in a trice its whole atmosphere seemed 
 aglow with exhilarating promise. 
 
 On arriving home he found the Rushes about 
 driving away to a dinner-party, which left him alone 
 for the evening. An impulse seized him to fly 
 around to Grosvenor Square. He remembered then 
 that London had another phase: that it was, in 
 effect, a prison ; that laws stricter than those of the 
 Medes and Persians hedged about each human be- 
 ing, and regulated his outgoings and incomings ; that 
 far from being at liberty to follow out his impulses, 
 he was little better than a slave. Here he stood in 
 Baker Street, and yonder in Grosvenor Square sat 
 Sylvia at the window, peering wistfully out into the 
 night, yet he could not go to her. 
 
 Why? 
 
 For answer, Falconer's face came back to him
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 427 
 
 with its expression of immeasurable remoteness, and 
 straightway there arose mountains upon mountains 
 of obstacles, cloud-tipped and impassable. 
 
 Rising after a long contemplation of these moun- 
 tain ranges, he flung impatiently about the room. 
 What was all this ? Should he let himself be hedged 
 about and hindered by intangible nothings? Were 
 the men who had made history so stayed? 
 
 He sat down again before the fire, and followed 
 out this new line of thought. Insensibly his face 
 cleared, his eye brightened, and the lines about his 
 mouth became tense with resolve. 
 
 Nevertheless, he did not go to Grosvenor Square, 
 for he reflected that Sylvia herself had not invited 
 him. Meantime, it seemed doubtful whether they 
 would ever meet again. He improved all his out- 
 ings in frequenting the haunts of the gay world; he 
 rode in the park, he went to the theatre in vain. 
 Several weeks, barren of opportunity, thus passed. 
 
 One night he was included in the invitations to a 
 rout at Almack's. Being in no very cheerful frame 
 of mind, he was disinclined to go. He did not know 
 what a rout was, and Almack's had a formidable 
 sound. 
 
 On arriving, and beholding the gayly - thronged 
 rooms, he was struck with dismay, and clung help- 
 lessly to Mrs. Rush's side. With kind thoughtful- 
 ness that lady introduced him, as occasion offered, 
 to divers agreeable young women, with one of whom 
 upon his arm he joined the promenaders. 
 
 After a time the music struck up, whereupon 
 everybody began to dance. Zach was panic-stricken.
 
 428 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 Crowded to the wall by the hopping, whirling throng, 
 he cast a nervous glance at his partner. She stood 
 tapping the floor with an impatient toe, and looked 
 expectant. He had wild notions of shaking her off 
 and flying the room, of explaining that he had a 
 wooden leg, or a tendency to vertigo. Happily a 
 brisk young man came up and took her out. With 
 a long, deep sigh of relief, Zach turned to make his 
 escape, when suddenly the crowd parted before him 
 and revealed a vision Sylvia, in the splendor of 
 a ball-room dress. 
 
 She saw him, smiled, waved her fan, and went 
 whirling past. It was maddening. Why had he 
 never learned this trick of bobbing and jumping 
 about, and shaking the legs to rhythm? Here was 
 a new and unexpected stumbling-block in his path. 
 How many more was he to encounter? Was his 
 whole life to be filled with them ? 
 
 He went about black as a thunder-cloud. Be- 
 tween whiles, in the dance, he caught glimpses of 
 Sylvia, gay, smiling, radiant. But that he felt like 
 a bull in a china shop, he would have gone to her. 
 He could not take her out. She would be ashamed 
 of him as a man forever at fault. He could not 
 muster courage. 
 
 Meantime he was at once gratified and tormented 
 to see that she was evidently looking out for him. 
 He hated her partners, he hated the occasion, he 
 hated himself for dodging and skulking to escape 
 her notice. 
 
 In this mood he suddenly came across Falconer 
 talking with a group of elderly men. One of them
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 429 
 
 was a member of the Cabinet, and greeted Zach. 
 Falconer regarded him quietly, without recognition. 
 It was the needed touch. With kindling eye and 
 tightened lips he walked directly across the room 
 and took a seat just vacated by Sylvia's side. 
 
 She received him with warmest welcome, and in 
 answer to his shamefaced confession that he could 
 not take her out, simply laughed. 
 
 In the midst of their talk, Falconer suddenly ap- 
 peared stooping over them. 
 
 Murmuring a perfunctory "With your leave" 
 to Zach, and acknowledging his presence with the 
 formal nod he would have bestowed on a stranger, 
 he said, 
 
 "Come, my dear, let us go down to supper! " 
 
 "No, papa," cried the spoiled young woman. 
 "You must get another partner, for I am going to 
 supper with Mr. Phips." 
 
 Eeceiving this rebuff with apparent equanimity, 
 the father said, as he moved away, 
 
 "The carriage is ordered for twelve, my dear; I 
 shall look you up a few minutes before. Try not 
 to keep me waiting." 
 
 As for Zach, who had risen with a purpose of 
 withdrawing, he was so electrified by this bold in- 
 subordination that he well-nigh neglected to take 
 the hint which had been given him. 
 
 Next morning, after breakfast, Sylvia and her 
 
 father had a talk. 
 
 "My pet," he began, "how old are you?" 
 "Truly, do you not know the age of your only 
 
 child? "
 
 430 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 "It has slipped my mind." 
 
 "What shocking ignorance! I am eighteen." 
 
 "You are no longer a child." 
 
 " Indeed I am not ; I have been trying a long time 
 to impress it upon you." 
 
 "'T is time, then, you ceased to act like one." 
 
 "Hoity toity ! Is this a scolding? " 
 
 "It is a serious talk, my dear, and I want you to 
 listen with attention and respect." 
 
 "Don't pucker up your brows, then! You 
 frighten me. Now what is it? Must I stop sit- 
 ting in your lap? or give up confectionery? " 
 
 "You must stop doing impulsive and ill-advised 
 things in public. You must remember the world 
 looks upon you as a woman, and will expect you to 
 behave with a woman's discretion." 
 
 "Mercy upon us! See how the doctors disagree! 
 Mason says that I am getting to be the very pink of 
 propriety, since I gave her that lace cap." 
 
 "Above all, you must be careful of the character 
 and standing of your associates." 
 
 "And are not my associates the same as your 
 associates? Papa, dear, you are getting oracular! " 
 
 "You chose to spend a good part of last evening 
 in the company of a young man of whom we know 
 nothing." 
 
 "Who?" 
 
 "This young Phips." 
 
 "Of whom we know nothing?" 
 
 "No; he came to us a waif, a ragamuffin. He 
 lived with us as a servant. He is not a fit associate 
 for you."
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 431 
 
 "Truly?" 
 
 "It was all very well on the plantation, when you 
 Were children ; but now, my love, it is very differ- 
 ent. Now it is most improper, and I must request 
 you to have nothing more to do with him." 
 
 "Poor old Zach!" 
 
 "He is neither poor nor old, and I repeat, he is 
 not a proper companion for you." 
 
 "Why is he not?" 
 
 "Because," answered Falconer firmly, "he is not 
 a gentleman." 
 
 Echoing the crushing sentence, Sylvia stared 
 blankly after her stately parent, as with a self-satis- 
 fied air he disappeared from the room. 
 
 Taking a hint given him at Almack's, Zach 
 came soon after to call. He was beaming, he was 
 elated, he was almost garrulous, he was quite at 
 ease. As he sat talking he gradually became sen- 
 sible that his hostess was regarding him with an 
 anxious, critical expression, and that for the first 
 time in her life there was an indefinable air of 
 constraint in her manner. 
 
 Directly this conviction came home to him he 
 demanded, with characteristic bluntness, the cause. 
 
 Sylvia looked startled at being detected, and 
 strove to hedge. 
 
 "Has anything happened?" he persisted. 
 
 Ye-es no." 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " Papa and I have had a talk." 
 
 " About me ? " 
 
 "Yes."
 
 432 ZACHAEY PHIP8. 
 
 His eyes kindled with interest, and he perceptibly 
 nerved himself as he asked, 
 
 "What did he say?" 
 
 " He he said er Oh, what fathers are 
 always saying, that yon er were not but 
 what does he know about it? that you" She 
 finished the halting sentence with a forced little 
 laugh. 
 
 "What did he say?" came the demand again, 
 with inexorable emphasis. 
 
 " Oh er why, that you are not a proper per- 
 son for er my me to associate with. Was 
 there anything ever so absurd?" 
 
 Slowly, slowly, the red blood mounted to the 
 listener's face, and big drops of sweat stood out 
 like beads on his forehead. 
 
 "What else did he say?" 
 
 "I cannot tell." 
 
 "I insist upon knowing." 
 
 His eyes burned like fire, his tone was imperative. 
 Sylvia took alarm. 
 
 "I he said but," with another hysterical 
 laugh, "what does it matter?" 
 
 "Go on! " he said fiercely. 
 
 " That that you Oh, no, no, spare me ! " 
 
 " No. I will hear all, I will hear his very 
 words. On your honor as a lady, tell me his 
 exact words ! " 
 
 Constrained by his growing excitement, she stam- 
 mered, 
 
 "That you were not a gentleman." 
 
 The listener's face grew livid. Terrified at the
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 433 
 
 effect of the words which had been wrung from her, 
 Sylvia flooded him with incoherent and hysterical 
 solace. 
 
 "But you mustn't mind papa. What does it 
 matter? You know how absurd he is. He remem- 
 bers you as you came to Basswood with Sandy, in 
 that with those shabby clothes, and he doesn't 
 know how you ' ve studied and and all you have 
 done since. He forgets that you were in the navy 
 an officer in the navy, for I s'pose the Ameri- 
 can navy is a real navy, and how you fought on 
 that terrible ship. I really believe he has forgotten 
 all about that, and and then he is so so preju- 
 diced, he judges everything from his English stand- 
 point, and and when he said that dreadful thing 
 about you " 
 
 "He spoke the truth! " broke in the listener 
 sternly. 
 
 " Hush ! you shall not say it ! I will not let you ! " 
 
 "I say it, and I repeat it," went on the young 
 man ruthlessly. "I am not a gentleman. I was 
 not born a gentleman. My father made beer; my 
 mother scrubbed her own floors and washed her own 
 pots and kettles. I am not educated. I have con- 
 sorted all my life with ignorant, boorish companions. 
 I was not bred a gentleman. I know little of your 
 manners and etiquette. I am continually making 
 blunders. I shall go on making blunders till the 
 end of my life." 
 
 "Hush! hush! This is dreadful. I will not' lis- 
 ten to you." 
 
 "Your father is right," he continued, rising from
 
 434 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 his seat, with a face now ashen white, even to his 
 very lips, "quite right. He told a simple truth, 
 which I might have seen for myself." He strode 
 to the door, and, turning, went on in a half-stifled 
 voice, "I am not a fit companion for you. I am 
 not a fit companion for anybody. Master Tileston 
 and my step-mother found it out long ago, all 
 honor to their intelligence." 
 
 He turned to open the door. Sylvia, who had 
 stood as if paralyzed while he spoke, now flew to 
 intercept him. She seemed aglow from head to 
 foot. Her eyes flamed, her whole face flamed. 
 Her voice mounted in a high, quavering tone which 
 threatened every minute to break. 
 
 "You shall not go you shall not! / have said 
 nothing, /have done nothing. I don't care what 
 papa says. I don't care what the whole world says. 
 I don't care whether you are a gentleman or not. 
 I care only that you are a man, that you are my 
 friend, my faithful, devoted friend, and I say you 
 are a fit companion for anybody in the wide, round 
 earth, and I will never, never let you go! " 
 
 A dry cough resounded through the room. 
 Clasped in each other's arms, deaf to everything 
 but each other's heart-beats, the two had not heard 
 the opening of the door. Turning now, they beheld 
 Falconer on the threshold, regarding them with an 
 attentive look.
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 NOBODY will be surprised to hear that 011 the 
 occasion of his next outing, Zach took the direction 
 of Grosvenor Square. 
 
 As he approached that fashionable quarter, he 
 slackened his pace, showed uncertainty of purpose, 
 and once or twice came to a standstill. 
 
 In this hesitating way he at last reached Falcon- 
 er's house, mounted the steps with a little spurt of 
 resolution, and sounded the knocker. 
 
 After waiting patiently for five minutes and im- 
 patiently for five minutes more, during which long 
 interval he took occasion several times to repeat his 
 summons with emphasis, it suddenly occurred to him 
 that something unusual was the matter. 
 
 Accordingly, stepping back into the street, he 
 looked up at the facade and saw that the blinds were 
 shut and that the whole house had a deserted air. 
 
 At a loss what to think, he asked a coachman, loi- 
 tering near, if he knew the whereabouts of the fam- 
 ily. The man stared and shook his head. 
 
 Thereupon, in default of anything else to do, he 
 'sat down upon the steps. It was only when he 
 awoke to the fact that he was becoming an object of 
 attention to the passers-by that he arose and went 
 stumbling away. 
 
 Betaking himself to the park, he walked about
 
 436 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 vaguely for half an hour, when, thinking it behooved 
 him to make a definite effort to discover Sylvia's 
 whereabouts, he returned to Grosvenor Square and 
 set about a systematic canvass of the neighborhood, 
 asking at the servants' doors and at the neighboring 
 cabstands for news of the family. 
 
 The result was meagre: one person had seen a 
 carriage early in the day drive away from the door, 
 laden with trunks. 
 
 Obliged to content himself with this irritating 
 scrap of information, Zach spent a week in idle con- 
 jecture. When well-nigh at the end of his patience, 
 there came to him one morning a letter postmarked 
 "Paris." In a little fever of excitement he left his 
 work and hurried away to his own room to read it. 
 It ran, 
 
 DEAR ZACH, Of course you have been around 
 to Grosvenor Square, and are wondering what has 
 become of us. We came away suddenly, very 
 suddenly indeed, the morning after you were there. 
 Papa was called here by some very important and 
 unexpected business. We started at such short 
 notice that I had no time to let you know. . . . 
 
 I thought papa would say something to me about 
 interrupting us that day in the drawing-room, but 
 he has never alluded to it. I am sure he has n't the 
 least suspicion what a very tragic interview it was 
 for us. You remember how unconcerned he looked, 
 and how civilly he shook hands with you. . . . 
 
 I long to see you. I am impatient at every delay. 
 I count the hours, but notwithstanding all, I don't
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 437 
 
 know where we shall meet. I dare not hope it will 
 be very soon. Indeed, I fear it may not be for a 
 long time, for papa says it is uncertain when he 
 shall get his business dispatched. Oh, that hateful 
 word business ! What a tyrant it is, and what slaves 
 men are to it ! 
 
 Shall I tell you a little secret? Although it is 
 so gay and brilliant here, with skies as blue and sun 
 as warm as ever they were in America, I am already 
 homesick for dear, dingy old Grosvenor Square. 
 Cannot you guess why ? 
 
 Hoping very soon to hear from you I am 
 
 Your fond, devoted, obedient servant, 
 SYLVIA FALCONER. 
 
 At odd moments between his official tasks, Zach 
 took occasion to answer this letter the very day it 
 was received. Having restrained himself to the end, 
 he could not forbear adding in a postscript : 
 
 "You are right in your foreboding. I too fear 
 it will be a long time before we meet ; business so 
 important as your father's must necessarily keep 
 him a long time abroad." 
 
 A new subject of distraction here intervened to 
 withdraw the young secretary's attention for a while 
 from his French correspondent. 
 
 Ugly rumors concerning the Arbuthnot and Arm- 
 brister incident began to leak out. Thereupon the 
 press teemed with accounts, high-colored and in- 
 flammable, of the whole proceeding. The people 
 became excited ; the clubs echoed with fierce tirades 
 against General Jackson. "Tyrant," "ruffian,"
 
 438 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 "murderer," were among the milder epithets cou- 
 pled with his name. Placards bearing the coarsest 
 caricatures of him were carried through the streets. 
 Supported by the popular clamor, the leaders of the 
 opposition in the House harried the government. 
 
 Certain memories were awakened in Zach's bo- 
 som, his blood was fired, and, having his own 
 opinion as to the justice of the denunciation, he had 
 much ado not to come out and bear witness of the 
 truth. 
 
 Meantime, from the vantage-point of his official 
 position, he watched with great interest the course 
 of the ministry. Many and anxious conferences 
 took place between Mr. Rush and Lord Castlereagh, 
 wherein it required all the suavity and address of 
 the American minister to satisfy and reassure the 
 suspicious secretary of war. 
 
 A remark of the noble lord's to Mr. Rush upon 
 the subject, accidentally overheard by Zach, has be- 
 come historic, and is significant of the great strain 
 produced by the incident. A war, said his lord- 
 ship, might have been produced on this occasion, 
 "if the ministry had but held up a finger." 
 
 Pending the negotiations, Zach received a cau- 
 tionary word from Mr. Rush about the necessity of 
 strict silence on his part, thereby confirming certain 
 suspicions as to the contents of the confidential let- 
 ter written by President Monroe. 
 
 From this engrossing business at the embassy 
 Zach was aroused one morning, like one awakened 
 from sleep, by receiving a note from Sylvia reproach- 
 ing him for not answering her letter.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 439 
 
 His first blank look of astonishment was promptly 
 succeeded by a flush of indignation. Suspecting 
 what had happened, and eager to justify himself, 
 he straightway set to work and wrote a voluminous 
 reply. Having carefully folded and sealed his let- 
 ter, he sat for a moment silently regarding it ; then, 
 with a triumphant gleam in his eye, took it to Mrs. 
 Hush to write the address. 
 
 The day this letter arrived in Paris, Falconer sat 
 yawning over his newspaper until a late hour in the 
 morning. Despite his pressing business he seemed 
 to have much leisure time on his hands, and a 
 stranger might well have thought he was at a loss 
 for something to do. With this bored look upon 
 his face, he was surprised by Sylvia, who came flying 
 into the room, asking breathlessly, 
 
 "Papa, did you see a letter which came for me 
 postmarked London? " 
 
 Au almost imperceptible movement took place in 
 Falconer's face, but he answered composedly, 
 
 "When?" 
 
 "Two or three weeks ago." 
 
 "Why do you ask?" 
 
 "Because it went astray." 
 
 "Whom was it from? " 
 
 Not heeding that the tables were being turned on 
 her, Sylvia answered frankly, 
 
 "It was from Zach." 
 
 "Do you mean to say, my dear, that you are 
 receiving letters from that young man without my 
 knowledge? " asked Falconer, pursuing his advan- 
 tage.
 
 440 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 "I mean," faltered Sylvia, fairly cornered by her 
 adroit questioner, "I I didn't receive the letter 
 I speak of because it didn't reach me, and so," she 
 continued, gaining courage, "I am making a search 
 for it, and came to ask if you have seen it." 
 
 "How did he know you were in Paris?" pursued 
 Falconer, evading a second attack. 
 
 "Because I wrote to tell him." 
 
 "You! my daughter! " in a tone of horror. "A 
 young woman of your birth and breeding write to a 
 strange young man without my approval ! " 
 
 However well pointed, this thrust failed of its 
 effect. 
 
 "Yes," answered Sylvia, firmly. "I wrote to 
 tell him where we had come, and," she went on, dis- 
 regarding a look of stern disfavor on her father's 
 face, "he wrote me back a long answer which I 
 never received." 
 
 " How do you know he wrote you a long answer ? " 
 asked Falconer, with dry severity. 
 
 "Because I have just received another letter in 
 which he says so." 
 
 The questioner did not suppress a look of aston- 
 ishment. 
 
 "The letter I handed you this morning was, then, 
 from him?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "It was directed in a woman's hand." 
 
 "Yes, he seems to have got somebody else to 
 direct it," was the ingenuous answer. 
 
 A faint tinge of color, scarcely amounting to a 
 flush, came and went in the father's face.
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 441 
 
 "And why, my daughter, did you not tell me of 
 all this before?" 
 
 " Because you seem to dislike Zach, and I thought 
 it would be disagreeable to you." 
 
 "And so yo\i already have secrets from me?" 
 said Falconer, in a tone of reproach. 
 
 Sylvia hesitated. Evidently she had not before 
 thought of her action as surreptitious. 
 
 "And plot and contrive to do in an underhand 
 way what you know I should disapprove." 
 
 These proved home thrusts. The listener looked 
 very much troubled, and only after several minutes 
 of silence answered in a voice filled with tears, 
 
 "Dear papa, I had to make a choice, don't you 
 see? to accept an alternative: either to displease 
 you or slight and grieve an old friend! " 
 
 "And do you now think your action right? " 
 
 "Ye-es." 
 
 "And do you intend to continue this clandestine 
 correspondence despite my objection? " 
 
 Unable longer to endure his tone of withering 
 reproach, Sylvia ran to her father and flung herself 
 into his arms, ejaculating between her sobs, 
 
 " Papa, dear papa, don't don't don't speak to 
 me so ! It is terrible to pain you. I love you with 
 all my heart. Oh, pity me ! Whatever I do, some- 
 body must be unhappy, and I shall be the most 
 unhappy of all. Do you not think you can get over 
 your prejudices against Zach? Oh, papa, try! do 
 try, for my sake ! I cannot bear to be unfaithful 
 to him." 
 
 With a face severe and unmoved, Falconer heard
 
 442 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 this confession. He made no answer. For the first 
 time in his life he failed to return his daughter's 
 embrace. 
 
 She, overcome with emotion, fled to her room, 
 and shut herself up for the rest of the day. 
 
 What Falconer's conclusion upon this matter, 
 pure and simple, might have been, is uncertain, for 
 his final decision was affected by extraneous events. 
 
 Several days after, he awoke with an odd feeling 
 in his head, which his valet relieved for the time by 
 applications of hot water. Later, he dropped his 
 fork at dinner, and to his surprise was not able, for 
 several minutes, to grasp it. 
 
 He forbore to mention to anybody these trivial 
 matters, but in the course of the following day took 
 occasion to visit a physician. After a long consul- 
 tation, he came forth with a countenance grave and 
 concerned. 
 
 Happily or unhappily, however, he was prevented 
 from brooding upon anything the doctor had told 
 him by another and quite different circumstance. 
 
 In his mail, forwarded from London, there came 
 next day a long letter from Nassau, over which he 
 pondered until he brought on again the confused 
 feeling in his head which the doctor had warned 
 him against. Nevertheless, he constrained him- 
 self to scratch off two jerky lines in answer to the 
 letter. 
 
 " Do not let Woodbine escape from the island ! 
 Arrest him at once, and wait advices from Lon- 
 don!" 
 
 All unconscious of her father's illness and anxi-
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 443 
 
 ety, Sylvia, after a week's careful consideration, 
 came to him with a serious air and said, 
 
 "Papa, I have something to say to you." 
 
 "Very good, my dear, let us hear it! " 
 
 "I know I am a spoiled child; you have said so, 
 yourself, and everybody has said so ever since I can 
 remember." 
 
 "Goon, my child." 
 
 " After having had my own way so long, I have 
 grown to think I must have it, and I am not patient 
 under correction or control, and I think you are 
 partly to blame for that." 
 
 "I fear you are right, my pet." 
 
 "But, having become sensible of this, I have 
 tried very hard of late to watch and discipline my- 
 self in this respect." 
 
 "I am glad to hear you say so," said the father 
 mechanically, but not without an inquiring look, as 
 to what this confession might mean. 
 
 "What I want to say now is," pursued his 
 daughter, intent upon her purpose, "that hence- 
 forth I shall try more and more to amend this fault, 
 but"- 
 
 "But" 
 
 "There are certain very serious things, deep 
 and sacred things," she repeated solemnly, "in 
 which, dear papa, I am not willing to say I will 
 always do as you wish." 
 
 A shadow, gradually darkening and deepening, 
 settled upon the listener's face, but he made no 
 movement to speak. 
 
 "Things, dearest papa, which concern not only
 
 444 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 my own happiness, but another's, things which 1 
 cannot cannot obey you in, and so " 
 
 "So?" 
 
 " When one of these these cases occur, I want 
 you to understand that if I do not do not yield to 
 your wishes, it is not because I do not love you just 
 the same, but because I cannot." 
 
 Next morning, Falconer announced that his busi- 
 ness in Paris was finished, and that they were to 
 return to London directly.
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 FALCONER arrived in London much the worse for 
 his journey. Noticing his look of exhaustion as 
 they sat together in the evening, Sylvia was filled 
 with solicitude, and besieged him with little atten- 
 tions. Such a reversal of their parts irked him, and 
 he sent her away to play upon the piano. 
 
 Presently, he astonished her by breaking out, 
 
 "That young what 's-his-name, my dear, where 
 does he live?" 
 
 "Do you mean Zach?" 
 
 "It begins with a P." 
 
 "Phips." 
 
 "That 's it; you say he 's still in London?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "What's his address?" 
 
 "He lives with the American minister on Baker 
 Street," answered the player, thrumming idly with 
 her left hand, while she regarded her father with a 
 look of suspense. 
 
 "To be sure" muttering "Rush humph! 
 he would know." 
 
 "What do you say, papa? " 
 
 "Nothing." 
 
 Next day, notwithstanding Sylvia's objections, 
 her father insisted upon going to drive. Declining 
 her offer to accompany him, he proceeded straight 
 to Baker Street and sent up his card.
 
 446 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 A half hour afterwards, Zach was disturbed at 
 his work by hearing Mr. Rush excitedly calling for 
 help. Hurrying downstairs, he found that gentle- 
 man at the door sending off a servant in great haste 
 for a doctor. 
 
 Before the doctor came, Falconer had in a meas- 
 ure recovered. That is, he stood up, moved his 
 arms, and spoke. He even affected to laugh, and 
 explained that it was only one of his little confused 
 feelings. Whereupon, having swallowed some 
 brandy and water, he walked across the room, pro- 
 nounced himself quite well, and announced his pur- 
 pose of going home. Anxious Mr. Rush said he 
 must not go alone, and looked significantly at Zach. 
 
 Astonished to see Falconer in London, when he 
 thought him in Paris, astonished at finding him 
 closeted with Mr. Rush, and still more astonished 
 at his sudden and unaccountable illness, Zach stood 
 stupidly and did not take the hint. 
 
 Thereupon, Mr. Rush whispered a word in his ear, 
 when, with great alacrity, he proffered his services 
 and helped the sick man down to his carriage. 
 
 Arrived in Grosvenor Square, Falconer cautioned 
 his companion to say nothing to Sylvia of his illness. 
 
 Sylvia! Was he then to see her? The sudden- 
 ness and matter-of-course way in which the sugges- 
 tion was made put him in a flutter. He forgot 
 where he was, and what he was doing, and on alight- 
 ing pushed and shoved the sick man about until 
 that impatient person sharply requested to be let 
 alone. 
 
 Nevertheless, far from showing any disposition to
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 447 
 
 part with his escort, the invalid ushered him into 
 the house, led the way to the library, and proceeded 
 to enter upon a conversation the manner and sub- 
 stance of which completed the young man's bewil- 
 derment. 
 
 "You are, then, in government service, Mr. 
 Phips?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "May I ask how old you are?" 
 
 "Twenty-three." 
 
 " Is it your intention to devote yourself to a diplo- 
 matic career?" 
 
 "It is." 
 
 "Humph! It is an honorable profession, but," 
 with a keen look at his visitor, "slow and toilful." 
 
 Busied with speculations as to the purport of this 
 personal examination, Zach neglected to answer. 
 
 "Meantime, one must live," pursued Falconer, 
 "and how is a young man to support himself, much 
 less a family, on the beggarly stipend allowed by 
 your country to its foreign representatives? " 
 
 Unwilling to provoke discussion, Zach received 
 this criticism upon his government in dignified 
 silence, the critic, meantime, studying his averted 
 face and recalling, perhaps, remembrances of the 
 passionate boy at Basswood and the belligerent mid- 
 shipman of later years. 
 
 The prolonged silence recalled Zach to the situ- 
 ation. Disappointed in a certain trembling hope 
 with which he had entered the house, and altogether 
 puzzled by the whole experience, he rose to go with 
 a perfunctory offer of further service.
 
 448 ZACHAEY PHIP8. 
 
 Falconer acknowledged it in a tone approaching 
 cordiality. 
 
 "I am indebted to you for a very timely assist- 
 ance. I am better, in fact quite well, now, as 
 you see. It was nothing to speak of ; a passing ill 
 turn brought on by bothering too much of late over 
 business. I must beg you again to say nothing of 
 it to my daughter. Which reminds me, Mr. Phips, 
 why cannot you come and dine with us? Let us 
 see; say this day week?" 
 
 Incoherently mumbling his thanks, Zach accepted 
 the invitation with a look which showed a doubt as 
 to whether his host was in his right mind, and went 
 home in a whirl of bewilderment. Zach was un- 
 questionably right in regarding the dinner as a pro- 
 foundly significant event. Grown wise in London 
 manners, moreover, he went in irreproachable trim. 
 He deported himself with dignity. He talked with 
 ease and sense. The host followed his every word 
 and movement with vigilant criticism. Left alone 
 over their wine, interrupting some conventional 
 commonplaces about English politics, he quietly 
 remarked, to the measureless astonishment of his 
 guest, 
 
 "Mr. Phips, I have been thinking I cannot do 
 better than consult you upon a business matter, I 
 may say, several matters, which have been trou- 
 bling me of late." 
 
 Forgetful of his diplomatic training, Zach showed 
 in his face an ingenuous appreciation of this unex- 
 pected tribute. 
 
 "You have been in New Orleans," continued Fal-
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 449 
 
 coner, in the tone of one talking to himself. "You 
 know the city ; you know my plantation ; the state 
 it was in before the war ; the yield of sugar ; the 
 number of slaves, and all. You have also been in 
 Nassau. You have seen my property there. You 
 have been in Washington. You know abor.t Mon- 
 sieur's work there. In short, 't is odd I never 
 thought of it before, you know more than any 
 other person now living about my interests in the 
 States and in the Bahamas." 
 
 Zach stared. The thought was evidently as new 
 to him as to his host. 
 
 "Now, sir, I may say to you in confidence that 
 of late Everything has gone wrong with me. If 
 some help cannot speedily be found, I am in a fair 
 way to lose the bulk of my possessions in the New 
 World, which I will frankly confess would not only 
 seriously cripple me, but " nodding towards the 
 drawing-room "impair the prospects of others." 
 
 It mattered nothing that Zach's comment upon 
 this surprising overture was unintelligible, for his 
 host was too much absorbed in his recital to heed 
 him. 
 
 "My lawyers here say it is imperative that some 
 competent person should go over at once and take 
 my affairs in hand, for I have late news that my 
 agent in Nassau has turned out a rascal." 
 
 Zach nodded significantly. 
 
 "Yes, yes; there is a prejudice against him, I 
 know ; but he was in many ways a valuable man for 
 me. I never found him out, in short, but 't is 
 of no use crying over spilt milk. My New Orleans
 
 450 ZACIIARY PHIPS. 
 
 affairs are also in a critical condition. Since my 
 poor old faithful friend and lawyer there died" 
 
 "Monsieur?" 
 
 "You knew him?" 
 
 "He is dead?" 
 
 "Yes, of a fever caught in that pestiferous town." 
 
 The listener's face showed such deep concern as 
 to arrest the elder's attention. 
 
 "He was then a friend of yours?" 
 
 "One of the best. I owe him everything I have 
 in the way of education. He lent me books, he 
 directed my studies. He took thought and trouble 
 in a thankless task. I had hoped we might both 
 live until I could in some way " 
 
 Zach stopped : his host's eyes had grown dim and 
 wandering. 
 
 "Pardon me," he said quickly, "for troubling 
 you with these personal matters. You wanted to 
 consult me " 
 
 Falconer rallied by a visible effort, and got upon 
 his feet. 
 
 "Yes, yes; but not to - niglit, another time. 
 Some morning, when," he hesitated as if search- 
 ing his mind for a fit expression, "when I am rested. 
 I will send you word, and if you are willing to give 
 the time, I I" He stopped as if he had lost 
 the thread of thought, and motioned vaguely towards 
 the drawing-room. 
 
 As soon as they appeared upon the threshold, 
 Sylvia came briskly forward, took possession of her 
 father, and without too evidently appearing to aid, 
 escorted him to an easy -chair. Then, bringing forth
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 451 
 
 the evening paper, said apologetically aside to 
 Zach, 
 
 "This is routine: you will excuse us if we do not 
 make a stranger of you." 
 
 But Falconer, noting her purpose, waved his hand, 
 saying, 
 
 "No, no; dispense with that to-night." 
 
 But Sylvia, with an effective assumption of her 
 old childish tyranny, persisted. "Mr. Phips wants 
 to hear the news." 
 
 With a feeble smile, as if understanding the arti- 
 fice, the sick man yielded. 
 
 "Only the news, nothing but the news, papa; 
 and never one of their comments." 
 
 Whereupon, spreading forth the "Evening 
 Times " upon her knee, she rapidly skimmed its 
 contents. 
 
 "Home Life of the Emperor Napoleon in Exile, 
 Description of St. Helena." 
 
 "Humph! Got you there, Bony, safe enough, 
 now," chuckled Falconer, in an undertone. 
 
 "Doings of the Austrian Court." 
 
 "Who cares about their doings! goon go 
 on to something interesting." 
 
 "Plot of the Russians to seize Constantinople." 
 
 "Aha, at it again ; what 's Castlereagh think- 
 ing of? Those filthy Cossacks are bound to^have 
 that plum, and they '11 get it, some time, they '11 
 get it!" 
 
 "Arrival of an Indian Princess from Florida, 
 comes to seek Redress for her Losses in the Semi- 
 nole War."
 
 452 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 " Ay, and she '11 get it, too, never a doubt of it ! 
 while a poor white man like me, who lost ten times 
 as much, may whistle for his pains." 
 
 "Insurrection of the Blacks in the West In- 
 dies" 
 
 " There, there, my dear, no more ; I 'm tired of 
 that. There 's nothing of interest go give us 
 some music." 
 
 Every day for a week Zach expected the promised 
 summons to Grosvenor Square. Meantime, he was 
 filled with surprise and curiosity over the sudden 
 change of attitude with regard to himself. It was 
 easy to date it from the day of Falconer's visit to 
 Mr. Rush. But what had impelled him to visit Mr. 
 Rush? What had Mr. Rush said to him? Had 
 he been led purely by self-interest and the stress of 
 his American affairs? These and a score of other 
 puzzling questions tormented him. 
 
 He was pondering all these riddles, while taking 
 an airing in the park one day, when he saw a fa- 
 miliar carriage before him. With an indefinable 
 little thrill he spurred forward to overtake it. 
 
 Sylvia was alone; she had left her father with 
 Mason ; he was much better. 
 
 The two looked at each other significantly. 
 Without any interchange of confidence upon the 
 subject, both felt that they were meeting for the first 
 time under new and happier auspices. 
 
 The talk was light and frivolous. Sylvia acted 
 like one intoxicated; her eyes shone, her cheeks 
 glowed. She laughed at nothing. Zach caught the 
 contagion and outdid her in folly.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 453 
 
 Thus laughing and chattering, the fond, silly pair 
 trotted down the mall, the happiest fools alive, when 
 suddenly, checking a peal of idle laughter, Sylvia 
 said, 
 
 "What an odd-looking person! Who can she 
 be? Look, Zach!" 
 
 With a smile on his lips, Zach. turned, and dis- 
 covered a young woman, dressed in bizarre finery, 
 leaning negligently against the trunk of a huge lin- 
 den-tree and regarding him and his companion with 
 keenest interest. Meeting his eye, she instantly 
 slunk behind the tree and disappeared in the shrub- 
 bery. 
 
 "Impossible! " he cried, gazing after her with a 
 stupefied look. 
 
 "You know her, then? " 
 
 "No-o, yes." 
 
 "She is a foreigner." 
 
 " She came from America, and her name is Ma- 
 lee." 
 
 "The Indian Princess!"
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 ZACH'S patience was at last rewarded: one morn- 
 ing came the long-expected message that Falconer 
 wanted to see him. 
 
 The experiment, as it seemed, proved satisfactory, 
 for the first conference was followed by many oth- 
 ers. Whether impressed by a certain air of reserve 
 power in his young adviser, or by minor qualifica- 
 tions of clearness of head and steadiness of purpose, 
 the stress of Falconer's anxiety was appreciably 
 relieved, and the result was a measurable improve- 
 ment in his health. 
 
 A natural consequence followed. Insensibly, 
 Zach became' very much at home in Grosvenor 
 Square. His business visits always ended in the 
 drawing-room, where Falconer noted with seeming 
 content the growing intimacy of his guest and 
 daughter. 
 
 A light gradually dawned upon even Mrs. Ma- 
 son's opaque understanding, for she intermitted by 
 degrees her dragon vigilance, and upon one pretext 
 or another joined Falconer in the library. 
 
 Upon one of these occasions of a long evening 
 spent without surveillance in Sylvia's company, Zach 
 lingered over his leave-taking. 
 
 He held longer than needful the little hand given
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 455 
 
 him with the farewell greeting, fumbling the while 
 in his waistcoat pocket. 
 
 "What have you there? " asked the owner of the 
 little hand unsuspectingly. 
 
 "Something for you," with a twitching of the cor- 
 ners of the mouth. 
 
 "What can it be? I am consumed with curi- 
 osity." 
 
 "You shall see presently," attempting to adjust 
 something upon her hand. 
 
 "A ring! for me? You saucy man!" snatch- 
 ing away her hand. 
 
 "You will not have it? " 
 
 "Certainly not. Why should I have a ring?" 
 with a tell-tale flush. 
 
 "Because it is time." 
 
 "Time? " with a clumsy attempt at innocence. 
 
 "Yes, long ago. Give me your-hand! " 
 
 "Really, sir! upon my honor! " 
 
 "Your hand, I say," peremptorily. 
 
 " Not I ! a ring ? Why that means " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "But we are not." 
 
 "Not!" 
 
 "Certainly not." 
 
 "And you refuse?" glooming up. 
 
 "How can I refuse, when I have never been 
 asked?" 
 
 "And you never will be asked." 
 
 As the defiant little person was gathering herself 
 for a reply, she was caught up in a smothering em- 
 brace.
 
 456 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 "You bold, rude man!' Put me down this min- 
 ute ! I never will " 
 
 "Won't you won't you, indeed? you can't 
 help yourself! It makes no difference whether 
 you will or not" another rudeness. "Give me 
 that hand, I say! Your consent is taken for 
 granted." 
 
 "I will call papa." 
 
 "Do, and Mrs. Mason, and the servants! Let us 
 have the whole household, and the neighbors to boot, 
 and I will publish to the world what a rebellious 
 little tease " 
 
 " Sh somebody is coming ! " 
 
 " Will you give me the hand? " 
 
 "There!" 
 
 The ring was fitted on at last, not without other 
 and repeated rudenesses. 
 
 "But what need had I of another ring?" 
 
 "Another?" 
 
 "Certainly. I have one already." 
 
 "Whose?" with an Othello look. 
 
 "See! " extending her hand. 
 
 "A stone set in brilliants!" with a deepening 
 Moorish expression. 
 
 "Which a rude, passionate, ill-bred person once 
 threw out of the window " 
 
 "The pink pearl!" 
 
 The incident closed with a demonstration more 
 significant than words. 
 
 Next day Sylvia told her father the news' She 
 beat about the bush a long time, and led up to the 
 subject with infinite tact, to make the shock as
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 457 
 
 gentle as possible. Glancing up by chance, when 
 after much hemming and hawing she came at last 
 to the announcement, she found him regarding her 
 with a look of quiet amusement. 
 
 Directly, she burst into tears, and when her fa- 
 ther would have consoled her, lapsed into a fit of 
 hysterical laughter. 
 
 When the news was given to the public, it was 
 made the occasion for a round of congratulations 
 and small festivities, in the course of which Zach 
 was duly presented to the large circle of Sylvia's 
 friends and acquaintances. Certain evidences that 
 he had sustained this ordeal with credit filled the 
 measure of Zach's content. It would be useless and 
 disingenuous to deny that one of the lifelong aims 
 of his ambition had herein found fulfillment. 
 
 He was now, as a matter of course, included in 
 all the family invitations, and the affianced pair, as 
 it chanced, made their first public appearance after 
 the betrothal at a rout given by the Earl of West- 
 moreland, one of their neighbors in the Square. 
 
 A great throng of the foremost persons in all 
 London filled the rooms. The uniforms, orders, 
 and insignia worn by the men, impressive as they 
 were, paled before the bravery of the women, whose 
 widespreading hoops, towering headdresses glitter- 
 ing with jewels and topped with ostrich plumes all 
 nodding, waving, and catching the light from a 
 myriad of wax candles, combined to form a scene of 
 unimaginable splendor. 
 
 Obliged for appearances' sake to relinquish 
 Sylvia during the dance, Zach stood looking about,
 
 458 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 at a loss what to do, when his attention was at- 
 tracted by a commotion in the corner of the room, 
 where a crowd had gathered about some unseen 
 object of interest. 
 
 Pushing his way to the front, he stood amazed : 
 there, surrounded by the rank and fashion of Lon- 
 don, stood Malee ! 
 
 No canon of good breeding sufficed to keep those 
 so-called gentlefolks from hemming in and staring 
 at the solitary stranger. On the other hand, it 
 must be confessed, Malee sustained the ordeal with 
 admirable composure. Neither abashed nor resent- 
 ful, she returned the universal stare of curiosity 
 with a look of serene indifference. 
 
 Romantic stories concerning her birth, her adven- 
 tures, and her sufferings had been for some days 
 flying about in society, which, coupled with her 
 striking personal characteristics, combined to render 
 her an object of irrepressible interest. 
 
 With a look of undisguised admiration, Zach re- 
 garded his old friend. Her beauty suffered not a 
 whit in this perilous contrast with the belles of the 
 drawing-room. Happily, some cunning tire-woman 
 had presided at her toilet, and given due emphasis 
 to all her points. A dress of yellow satin fell in 
 shining folds about her hoopless figure, an Indian 
 crepe shawl of the same color was twisted negli- 
 gently about her shoulders, strings of amber encir- 
 cled her throat, while a broad gold band about her 
 head held in place the heavy braids of her coarse 
 black hair. 
 
 Stepping forward at once, Zach held out his
 
 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 459 
 
 hand. Directly, as if by magic, a change took place 
 in the cold, half defiant bearing of the Indian girl. 
 Her cheek flushed, her eye brightened, her figure 
 relaxed. She took, with a shamefaced look, the 
 extended hand, and in answer to Zach's eager ques- 
 tions as to her welfare, dropped her eyes and bash- 
 fully toyed with the folds of her gown. 
 
 "How came you here, Malee?" 
 
 "By the ship over the great water." 
 
 "Yes, I know, but," he proceeded, with frontier 
 bluntness, "what errand brought you so far from 
 home?" 
 
 A deeper flush, for a minute, swept over the girl's 
 face; there was an evident struggle, too, against 
 the prevaricating instinct of her race, but her an- 
 swer, when it came, was honest and simple. 
 
 "Malee, too, have secrets." 
 
 Her cross-examiner looked rebuked. 
 
 "I thought I hoped," he stammered, "your 
 father's friends here had heard of your troubles and 
 had sent for you." 
 
 Malee shook her head. 
 
 "And have they done nothing for you? " 
 
 "They do good deal. They give me this," pick- 
 ing up her gown. "They give me much to eat and 
 drink. They give me soft words and good counsel. 
 They good friends." 
 
 "Have you told your story? Have you told of 
 your father's cruel death at the hands of those 
 butch ", 
 
 A sudden remembrance of his official position 
 doubtless caused him to leave the sentence unfin- 
 ished.
 
 460 ZACIIARY PHIPS. 
 
 "I mean," he went on after a little, "if you make 
 known to these good friends the trials and losses 
 you suffered from the war, they may do something 
 to make it good to you." 
 
 Malee did not answer, and from her face it was 
 impossible to say how she received the suggestion. 
 
 "You will be here how long? good many days? 
 good many weeks?" 
 
 His question being quietly ignored, the ques- 
 tioner hastened to explain. 
 
 "Because I, too, have friends here. I may help 
 you. I will try." 
 
 Again the girl's face softened in a marked man- 
 ner, and she murmured, 
 
 "I thank you." 
 
 "Where are your lodgings?" 
 
 Malee looked blank. 
 
 "Where do you eat and sleep? " 
 
 " I not know ; they bring me here, they take me 
 away." 
 
 Zach looked perplexed. Before he could continue 
 his inquiries a voice near at hand cried, 
 
 "Ah, runaway, here you are, at last! " 
 
 He turned, and saw Sylvia on the arm of her 
 cousin, a young lieutenant in the guards. 
 
 " Yes ; I came across the room to speak to my old 
 friend "- 
 
 "You mean the Indian princess?" broke in Syl- 
 via breathlessly. " Oh, pray introduce us ! Every- 
 body is dying to know her. Does she speak Eng- 
 lish?" 
 
 "Sh-h! " hissed Zach softly. "She has the ears
 
 ZACIIAEY PHIPS. 461 
 
 of a lynx. She does speak English, and I will in- 
 troduce you at once." 
 
 The lieutenant, being engaged for the next dance, 
 excused himself and hurried away. Whereupon, 
 Zach, turning with a little air of constraint, said, 
 
 "Malee, this is another good friend of mine, Miss 
 Sylvia Falconer, a friend," he added, with a 
 marked emphasis, "whom I have known a great 
 many years; longer, even, than I have known you." 
 
 A contraction as from a freezing draught came 
 over the Indian's whole person; her facial lines 
 moved ominously downward, and she received with 
 an unresponsive air Sylvia's cordial greeting, 
 
 "I have heard a great deal of you, Malee. I have 
 had a great desire to see you. Mr. Phips has told 
 me of the brave and noble service you rendered him. 
 He will never forget. I am glad to have an oppor- 
 tunity to thank you, both for his sake and for my 
 own." 
 
 Sylvia spoke with enthusiasm, holding, as she 
 talked, the limp hand of the Indian girl, who suf- 
 fered without returning the pressure. 
 
 "You have come a long way to visit England? " 
 
 Malee nodded. 
 
 "I suppose it seems strange to you; it did to me 
 when I first came. But you will like the people 
 better when you come to know them. The country, 
 too, when you get away from this noisy, smoky 
 town, is delightful. There are no grand, wild for- 
 ests, to be sure, such as you have in Florida, but 
 there are beautiful meadows and moors and hills 
 and parks."
 
 462 ZAVHARY PHIPS. 
 
 Unobservant, as it seemed, of the cold, unan- 
 swering mood of the stranger, Sylvia prattled on, 
 
 "I hope you will come to see me before yon go 
 away. I live close by in the Square, the very next 
 door to Lord Westmoreland. Perhaps Zach per- 
 haps Mr. Phips will come, too, and so you may 
 have an opportunity to talk over your old life in the 
 forest." 
 
 Getting restive at this prolonged interview, Zach 
 made a pretext for dragging Sylvia away, turning 
 back for a moment to whisper, 
 
 "I saw you the other day in the park, Malee. 
 Come there again to-morrow, I want to have a word 
 with you! " 
 
 Hearing without assenting, Malee followed with 
 a curious, intent look the happy pair as they moved 
 away. 
 
 Later in the evening Zach caught another glimpse 
 of his old friend leaning against one of the pillars 
 supporting the arched entrance to the ball-room. 
 He paused to study anew the supple grace of her 
 person as, unconscious of observation, she stood 
 watching the dancers. 
 
 From wandering listlessly over the room, her 
 gaze presently became fixed. It acquired a marked 
 intensity, while her figure, half -hidden by the col- 
 umn, had a curious suggestion of a crouching pan- 
 ther, silent, tireless, alert. 
 
 Following the direction of her eyes, Zach's look 
 of idle curiosity gave place to one of alarm. 
 
 Hurrying across the room, he took advantage of 
 the first opportunity and persuaded Sylvia to go 
 home.
 
 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 463 
 
 Having said good-night at her door, he turned 
 back with an afterthought. 
 
 " Dearest, did I hear you inviting Malee to visit 
 you?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "I beg you will not repeat the invitation." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "And if she comes, make some excuse for not 
 seeing her." 
 
 "I cannot do that, dear, it would be both un- 
 friendly and uncivil." 
 
 "Nevertheless, I beg you to do it." 
 
 " How very odd of you after saving your life 
 and being such a friend to you! What can you 
 mean? She would be grossly affronted." 
 
 "I know I know. But 'tis better to run the 
 risk of that than " 
 
 "Than? " with wondering eyes. 
 
 "Than" hesitating "than be annoyed with 
 her afterwards."
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 NEXT day Zach took care to be in the park at his 
 usual hour for an outing. As he had named no 
 particular place for meeting, he was obliged to ex- 
 plore the whole garden before satisfying himself that 
 Malee was not there. 
 
 Having arrived at this conclusion, he threw him- 
 self down with an air of irritation, but presently 
 recovered his equanimity upon reflecting that Malee 
 had not promised to come, and that, moreover, in 
 her inexperience of the city, she might easily have 
 gone astray. After waiting, therefore, a reasonable 
 time for her, he slowly strolled back to the house. 
 
 Several days afterwards Mr. Rush sent him to 
 show the town to a newly -arrived compatriot. This 
 was one of the routine duties of the private secre- 
 tary, in which Zach had easily become proficient. 
 
 Among the not-to-be-neglected lions every Amer- 
 ican must see was Sir Benjamin West. 
 
 At the studio of the venerable artist, accordingly, 
 Zach 'duly brought up towards the close of a day's 
 sight-seeing. 
 
 As usual, Sir Benjamin received the stranger with 
 cordiality, and Zach, leaving the two to talk, wan- 
 dered listlessly about the room. 
 
 A loud exclamation was presently heard.
 
 ZACHAKY PHIPS. 465 
 
 Sir Benjamin turned, and beheld the secretary 
 staring open-mouthed at an unfinished painting. 
 
 "Who is this?" 
 
 "So," answered the artist, gratified by this trib- 
 ute to his latest effort, "you like that, then? You 
 are right. I flatter myself 't is a fair bit of work, 
 and when I get it done, if I ever do " 
 
 "But who" - 
 
 "The model? Why, sir, 't is no other than our 
 fair countrywoman, the Indian princess, the town is 
 so mad about." 
 
 "Malee?" 
 
 "Some outlandish name of that sort." 
 
 "But how came she came you" 
 
 " Oh, as for that, somebody brought her here, and 
 naturally I could n't resist the temptation. See 
 what a figure! Note the pose of the neck! I 
 plume myself upon that." 
 
 "But where is she?" 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "Where does she live?" 
 
 "Live? Dear me! I haven't the least notion, 
 but remark how exactly I have the copper tint of 
 her skin! " 
 
 "Is it known what brings her over here? " 
 
 "Ah, that, now, I could n't tell you. 'T is a long 
 story, I believe. She lost everything in some war: 
 her father was killed, or something of that sort. 
 They claim to have been allies of the British, who 
 left them to their fate; so now the Whig leaders 
 have taken this one up, and are making all this 
 pother to harass the government."
 
 466 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 "But my Lord Westmoreland had her the other 
 night at his rout." 
 
 "Of course, a sop thrown to the opposition 
 Cerberus, not to speak of the fact that Lady West- 
 moreland would have had her in any case as the 
 reigning sensation in London. See the modeling 
 of that left arm. Stand here ! This is the better 
 light." 
 
 "But is she coming back? " 
 
 "To me, you mean? I only wish she might. I 
 need another sitting. One more would do. But 
 she suits herself, that one; she is as capricious as 
 the wind, and has no more respect for art than 
 a raccoon. You would n't believe, now, my dear 
 Phips, but she has never condescended to cast an 
 eye upon that sketch since 't was begun." 
 
 "If she does come again " 
 
 *'Ah, but she won't, she won't! Not a bit of it. 
 I know her well. She thinks it slow business, I 
 assure you ; and I had to use all my wiles to keep 
 her, the last time." 
 
 "You may see her, however, elsewhere." 
 
 "Possibly. This bit here, now, in the back- 
 ground, makes you almost smell the forest, eh?" 
 
 "Or it may come to your ears where she is stay- 
 ing?" 
 
 "I dare say." 
 
 "If so, I beg you to send me word at once." 
 
 "That I will, trust me, if I don't forget it." 
 
 "I shall be greatly obliged." 
 
 "Spare your thanks till they are earned, and 
 don't count upon me! My memory is a wreck, and
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 467 
 
 my wits go wool-gathering these days. Mark you 
 that cheek - bone, boy ; it has the true aboriginal 
 turn, eh? " 
 
 "I make the point because the girl has been a 
 great sufferer. I know something of her history, 
 and may be able to help her. You say the Whig 
 leaders have taken up her cause? " 
 
 "Ay, and had her up before a committee of the 
 House the other day, to hear her tell of the murder- 
 ous doings of that wild, roaring Jibbenainosay of 
 ours yonder in the Floridas." 
 
 With a truly diplomatic presence of mind, Zach 
 looked as blank as the side of a house. 
 
 "Right, lad, right!" chuckled the shrewd old 
 man. "You know nothing of all that! You never 
 heard the name of a certain Andrew Jackson, whom 
 between ourselves, as good Americans, I think equal 
 parts ignoramus and madman. But what matters 
 that, so long as the dear States reap the advantage 
 of his ill-doings, eh?" 
 
 "And Malee was had before the Commons, you 
 say?" 
 
 "Tush, not so loud! 'T is in a measure a state 
 secret, which I heard last night at a banquet at my 
 Lord Castlereagh's." 
 
 "And she testified?" 
 
 "That she did, with a gusto which has thrown the 
 whole cabinet into a panic." 
 
 Suppressing a blasphemous exclamation, Zach 
 asked, 
 
 "Is it known what she said?" 
 
 Y es n o; I cannot say; only 't is said her
 
 4C8 ZACIIARY mips. 
 
 eyes flashed fire, and she flung about her arms in 
 fine tragic style, worthy dear Siddons herself." 
 
 A deepening cloud settled upon the listener's face, 
 and he cast a nervous glance towards his country- 
 man, who was busy with the pictures at the other 
 end of the room. 
 
 "But the dusky princess has a truly royal strain," 
 went on Sir Benjamin. "'T is said she rejects 
 with disdain the money the Whigs had such toil in 
 raising for her, which has set everybody to specu- 
 lating what can have brought her so far over the 
 sea." 
 
 The young secretary did not answer, but after 
 several minutes of silence, he made some excuse to 
 go, leaving his companion to visit with Sir Ben- 
 jamin. 
 
 He went away with a look of preoccupation. 
 There was, indeed, no lack of matter to engage his 
 attention. In the existing excitement of the pub- 
 lic over the Seminole War, Malee's testimony was 
 in the highest degree calculated to revive the popu- 
 lar wrath, which had already begun to subside. In 
 a renewal of the discussion, his own name might be 
 drawn in, and his position and future imperiled. 
 Far from being insensible to these ignoble consid- 
 erations, the young diplomat showed himself very 
 much alive to them. There is good ground for be- 
 lief, indeed, that he dwelt upon this aspect of the 
 case with no inconsiderable dismay. 
 
 Nor were his fears without warrant. The wan- 
 ing interest in the subject was not only revived, but 
 the public anger was still further aroused by news
 
 ZACHARY PIIIPS. 469 
 
 that the American Congress, instead of censuring 
 General Jackson for his lawless doings, had scarcely 
 stopped short of applauding them, and that Mr. 
 Adams, the Secretary of State, had stoutly justified 
 the whole proceeding. 
 
 At this juncture, unhappily for the administra- 
 tion, came news of the cession of the Floridas to the 
 United States. Thereupon the press raised a pro- 
 digious clamor, and there was a consequent depres- 
 sion in the public funds. 
 
 It was well for Mr. Rush that the administration 
 faction had plenty of backbone, for those were 
 anxious days at the American embassy, and a tag 
 of conversation which Zach took home from an even- 
 ing party proved a genuine crumb of comfort. 
 
 Two guests were discussing the probability of 
 war. 
 
 "But here comes the duke. Let 's take his opin- 
 ion!" 
 
 "Tell us, your Grace," to a little old man with 
 stooping shoulders who was passing, "what is the 
 prospect of a war?" 
 
 "With whom?" The assumption of innocence 
 was vastly effective. 
 
 "With these obstreperous States." 
 
 "There is no prospect," returned the old man, 
 with cold tranquillity, "that two nations with so 
 much common sense as the English and Americans 
 will ever go to war upon a pretext so trivial." 
 
 "Who was that?" asked Zach, impressed by the 
 power in the speaker's beaked nose and cold gray 
 eyes.
 
 470 ZACHARY PHIPS, 
 
 "The Duke of Wellington! " 
 
 Grave matters of state had thus monopolized for 
 many weeks the young secretary's time and atten- 
 tion, when a slight incident reminded him that his 
 life had other interests. 
 
 Going home at a late hour one night, from some 
 business engagement, he saw a shawled figure slip 
 stealthily from an area opposite Mr. Rush's house, 
 and glide away among the shadows of the ill-lighted 
 street. At first scarcely heeding the circumstance, 
 it presently flashed upon him that there had been 
 something familiar in the form or carriage of the 
 fugitive. 
 
 Directly, he gave chase. Running to the end of 
 the street, he returned, peering into every area or 
 shadowy embrasure, calling coaxingly, 
 
 "Malee, Malee!" 
 
 But not even an echo broke the midnight silence. 
 
 For a coincidence, next day on going to Gros- 
 venor Square, Sylvia greeted him with 
 
 "What do you think? I 've seen your friend, 
 what 's-her-name, the Indian princess again ! " 
 
 "Where? " with an assumption of indifference. 
 
 "Here, in our own square." 
 
 "When?" 
 
 "Yesterday, no, the day before. I was sit- 
 ting at the window when I saw a strange, foreign- 
 looking woman with a shawl over her head saunter- 
 ing aimlessly about among the shrubbery in the 
 square. I scarcely heeded her, and of course at- 
 tached no significance to it." 
 
 "Certainly not."
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 471 
 
 "Next clay, about the same hour in the morning, 
 I was sitting again at the window, looking for papa 
 to return from his drive, when I saw a flutter of 
 garments behind the statue." 
 
 "Pure fancy!" interjected the listener, with a 
 nervous laugh. 
 
 "Listen! That afternoon Mason and I went to 
 drive. Returning about dusk, I saw the woman 
 going before us down the square, and this time, 
 thinking herself unobserved, she slipped into that 
 little clump of haws just opposite our door. I drove 
 past, affecting not to notice her presence, but went 
 into the house, and through the closed shutters ex- 
 amined her with my opera glass, and made up my 
 mind that for some purpose she is watching this 
 house ! " 
 
 "Pooh, pooh! " exclaimed Zach, with ill-assumed 
 indifference. "What should she be watching your 
 house for? " 
 
 "That 's the mystery." 
 
 "No mystery at all. 'T is a common beggar do- 
 ing the square for cold victuals." 
 
 " Wait ! I am not through ! As soon as I made 
 up my mind it was this house she was interested in, 
 I sent a man across to speak to her." 
 
 "How could you be so rash?" 
 
 "When she saw him coming, she sprang up and 
 hurried away. I saw her face distinctly, and recog- 
 nized the Indian. She is not one to be forgotten. 
 And now, if she comes again I shall go and speak 
 to her myself." 
 
 "God forbid!"
 
 472 ZACHARY PHI PS. 
 
 Sylvia stared in amazement at the explosive in- 
 terruption. 
 
 "Whatever you do, darling, keep out of her 
 way!" 
 
 "But why? Have you not told me again and 
 again that she is one of your most faithful friends, 
 that she has had great trials, that she is poor and 
 friendless? " 
 
 "Yes, yes; that is true; but all the same, I charge 
 you I charge you," he repeated, with a solemn 
 and almost tragic emphasis, "on no account go near 
 her!" 
 
 " Mercy upon us ! You are enough to scare one ! 
 Why should n't I go near her? She cannot intend 
 me any harm. Besides, she may feel homesick and 
 wretched. She may be pining for a kind word, 
 poor creature ! " 
 
 " I know ; I am mindful of all that, and I feel a 
 profound pity for her. I will do anything I can 
 for her myself, but for you it is another thing. Re- 
 member, she is a savage, a creature of impulse and 
 passion, and not to be judged by the standards of 
 civilization." 
 
 Reflection upon the subject seemed only to in- 
 crease Zach's apprehensions, for when he came to 
 say good-night, he begged Sylvia to forbear for the 
 present her walking and horseback exercise, and on 
 no account to venture out of the house unattended. 
 
 But a spoiled child is not reformed in a moment. 
 Accustomed all her life to follow her own caprices, 
 Sylvia laughed at Zach's fears and warnings, and 
 accordingly, several days afterwards, when on re-
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 473 
 
 turning from a drive she again caught sight of 
 Malee loitering in the square, she jumped from the 
 carriage and boldly accosted her. 
 
 "Is that you, Malee? I have been hoping to 
 meet you. Will you come home with me ? I want 
 to see you." 
 
 Disconcerted by the unexpected meeting, Malee 
 made no answer. 
 
 "Come, "repeated Sylvia, graciously putting forth 
 her hand. "I want to be friends with you. I am 
 sure you have not many friends here." 
 
 Neglecting to take the proffered hand, the Indian 
 yet, after a moment's hesitation, silently followed 
 her new acquaintance home. 
 
 Shown into the drawing-room, she refused to be 
 seated, but standing bolt upright by the fireside 
 gazed with unwinking attention at her hostess. 
 
 "Pray sit down! you must be tired. I hope you 
 are getting to feel like home in London. It must 
 seem a dismal place after the beautiful wilderness, 
 of course. I love the forest, too, but I shoidd get 
 lonely there. I am used to men and women, and I 
 like better to be with them." 
 
 The strange guest made no answer, nor showed 
 by any sign of approval or dissent how she received 
 this overture. 
 
 With admirable ease and friendliness, as if she 
 had the most sympathetic auditor in the world, 
 Sylvia went on, 
 
 "I hope you are succeeding in your mission to 
 this country. Zach I mean Mr. Phips has told 
 me of the trials and hardships you have suffered.
 
 474 ZACHABY PHIPS. + 
 
 He often speaks of you, and wishes he might help 
 
 you." 
 
 A perceptible narrowing of the eyes and tighten- 
 ing of the lips took place in the listener's face. 
 
 "I hope you have found other friends to help 
 and care for you. Mr. Phips, I am sure, will come 
 and see you, if you tell me where you may be 
 found." 
 
 There was a convulsive movement, as of swallow- 
 ing, in Malee's throat, but she did not speak. 
 
 "Will you not leave word where he may find 
 you?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "He would take great pleasure in helping you." 
 
 "Speak not to him," said the Indian sternly. 
 
 "Let me, then, serve you! Tell me what I can 
 do for you." 
 
 "Nothing." 
 
 As she spoke, Malee made a movement towards 
 the door. 
 
 "You are going? Why are you in such haste? 
 Will you not stay and eat with us? " 
 
 The Indian shook her head. 
 
 "But you must not go alone. It is quite dark. 
 I will send you home in the carriage." 
 
 "I have no home." 
 
 "To your friends, then, wherever you are stay- 
 ing." 
 
 "I have no friends." 
 
 "But you will leave some word for Mr. Phips?" 
 
 "He come to see you here?" asked the Indian, 
 suddenly, with glittering eyes.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 475 
 
 "Yes, and I will tell him that I have seen you." 
 
 Again the movement was seen in the girl's throat. 
 She was silent for a minute, and then hoarsely 
 said, 
 
 "Tell him nothing." 
 
 The door opened and shut, and she was gone.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 ZACH was expected to dinner that evening in 
 Grosvenor Square, and as he approached the house 
 saw a shawled figure issue from the door and pause 
 a moment upon the step, as if in doubt which way 
 to turn. It looked like a woman, but there was not 
 light enough to be certain. As he drew nearer, the 
 figure started, and fled away down the street. 
 
 He stopped short. The truth flashed upon him. 
 He tried to rush forward, but could not. His knees 
 grew limp, and he was fain to clutch the nearest 
 railing. 
 
 A servant came out to light the lantern above the 
 Falconers' door. The man's manner, so quiet and 
 perfunctory, reassured him. There was, then, no 
 occasion for alarm. 
 
 His fears put to rest, he yielded to an irrepres- 
 sible inclination to follow the fugitive. Hurrying 
 to the corner of the street, he saw afar off the draped 
 figure melting into indistinctness among the gather- 
 ing shadows. 
 
 Resolved that she should not again escape him, he 
 dashed after at full speed. With the fleetness of 
 her race, however, she steadily maintained her lead, 
 and while the echoing sound of his boots warned 
 her of his pursuit, her moccasined feet fell like 
 snowflakes on the pavement.
 
 ZACHARY 2>I1IPS. 477 
 
 Following on at unslackeued pace, Zach soon 
 found himself in a poorer quarter of the town. The 
 pavements became rough and irregular, the street- 
 lamps dimmer and farther apart. 
 
 Meantime, for many minutes he had seen nothing 
 of Malee. Not impossibly she had doubled on him ; 
 it was an old trick of Indian runners. 
 
 Stopping at last upon the corner of two narrow 
 streets, he lighted a match and looked about. The 
 feeble point of light served only to make the dark- 
 ness more obscure. He listened, but heard nothing 
 save the hoarse, ceaseless roar from the heart of the 
 town. 
 
 Convinced, however, that the fugitive had passed 
 that way, he boldly plunged down the narrowest and 
 darkest of the streets. He found it not only dark 
 and narrow, but unpaved and abounding in noxious 
 stenches. He kept on at a steady pace, for un- 
 counted minutes. In the comparative stillness he 
 presently was sensible of a noise, a noise not loud, 
 but unusual. He stopped and listened. It sounded 
 like the heavy tread of men walking in unison. It 
 was, moreover, plainly coming in his direction. 
 
 Fearful of being stopped and questioned by this 
 night-patrol, he slipped into the shadow of a tum- 
 ble-down old stable which stood withdrawn from the 
 street. 
 
 Hardly was he ensconced here, when the parad- 
 ers arrived, and greatly to his consternation halted 
 directly before his hiding-place. He slunk down a 
 blind passage beside the stable, and waited in need- 
 less trepidation. The strangers were too intent
 
 478 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 upon their own purpose to heed him. What was 
 their purpose? He could not divine. He could 
 only follow their movements with breathless inter- 
 est as, after a muttered conference, they stealthily 
 approached the stable door. 
 
 Hereupon, somebody inside evidently took alarm, 
 for a light, which had been shining through certain 
 cracks and knot-holes of the old building, suddenly 
 went out. 
 
 Arrived at the door the new-comers paused again 
 for a moment, and then with one accord threw them- 
 selves upon the rickety barrier and burst their way 
 into the building. 
 
 Directly, there was a tumult of oaths, threats, 
 and curses, interspersed by one or two pistol-shots, 
 while high above all resounded cries for help. 
 
 Unheeding all dictates of prudence, Zach answered 
 the appeal. Reaching the stable door, he collided 
 with several men escaping from the building. 
 
 Upset by the shock, he struggled to his feet, and 
 prompted by the cries from within seized upon the 
 hindmost fugitive, a sturdy and desperate fellow, 
 who, turning quickly, dealt his unarmed captor a 
 blow with the butt of a horse-pistol which felled him 
 to the ground. 
 
 Incapable, henceforth, of any clear and connected 
 perception of what took place, the sufferer had 
 nevertheless confused impressions of a crowd coin- 
 ing forth from the stable, some with dark lanterns, 
 some handcuffed and dragged as prisoners, and all 
 disappearing in the darkness like a disorderly mob. 
 
 Left thus unconscious and disabled upon the
 
 ZACHABY PIIIPS. 479 
 
 ground, the involuntary witness of the midnight 
 affray would doubtless have found it a poor conso- 
 lation to know that he had taken part in an histor- 
 ical incident which was destined to startle the civil- 
 ized world, and make a very telling paragraph in 
 the humdrum annals of the prince regent's adminis- 
 tration. 
 
 When, after an interval, he never knew how 
 long, the witness awoke to a blurred and pain- 
 wracked perception of things about him, he had 
 much ado to make himself out. 
 
 This first half consciousness was followed by di- 
 vers sleepings and wakings, accompanied by visions 
 more or less impossible and incongruous. He was 
 dimly aware that his surroundings, although not 
 squalid, were in the last degree humble. Again he 
 was conscious of being studiously cared for; it even 
 seemed at times that he was caressed by a familiar 
 hand; and once he fancied that he had seen Malee's 
 face bending close above him, her proud eyes soft- 
 ened with anxiety and tenderness. 
 
 At last, like the brushing away of a cobweb, 
 all this confusion and uncertainty vanished. He 
 awoke with clear head and undimmed vision. But 
 a new bewilderment awaited him. Although he 
 saw plainly the objects about him, he did not recog- 
 nize them. Where was he? and how came he there? 
 
 Little by little he went back and knitted up the 
 raveled sleave of memory. Vividly enough he re- 
 called the pursuit of Malee, but that was ages ago. 
 Then came remembrances of the patrol, the stable, 
 the cries for help, the struggle, the blow.
 
 480 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 Opportunely, a strange woman entered at this 
 point, who proved to be the landlady of his humble 
 lodgings, a vulgar but not unkindly body, who 
 was only too glad to talk. 
 
 She easily supplemented his remembrances by 
 saying that he had been brought there in a senseless 
 condition by a foreign-looking woman with the 
 strength of a man, for she had carried him with ease 
 in her arms ; that this foreign person, moreover, 
 had shown herself very close-mouthed and none too 
 civil, for she would condescend to make no explana- 
 tions save that her patient was a person of rank, 
 and that the greatest care and attention must be 
 shown him. She furthermore confessed that the 
 strange young woman had shown great concern for 
 her patient, for whom, however, she would not hear 
 of calling a physician, but had dressed his wound 
 with some lotion of her own. 
 
 "Altogether," concluded the good woman, "I 
 cawn't at all make her out, an 'ave no liking for 
 'er looks, and 'ad made up me mind to tel the 'ole 
 story to yer honor so soon as ever yer honor come 
 to 'is wits." 
 
 "She is in the house now?" asked the patient 
 eagerly. 
 
 "Never a bit!" 
 
 " When was she here last? " 
 
 "This vevy day; early in the morning." 
 
 "Did she say anything about coming back?" 
 
 "Not she. But there 's little need ; she 's sure to 
 be 'ere to-morrow at some hour to suit 'erself." 
 
 "How long have I been here? "
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 481 
 
 "Eight and forty hours, or the matter of that." 
 
 "What time of day is it? " 
 
 "Four o'clock and after. I know by St. Giles's 
 bells, which sounded two hours an' more ago." 
 
 The patient paused and considered a space, break- 
 ing out presently with an appearance of energy and 
 impatience. 
 
 "Go at once, my good woman, and order me a 
 carriage! " 
 
 " Your honor never thinks of going without see- 
 ing 'er?" 
 
 "Yes, yes, I cannot wait." 
 
 "She might murder me that one! " 
 
 "Pooh! go fetch me pen and paper, and I will 
 write her a letter." 
 
 "A letter to 'er, an 'ow, tell me, '11 she ever get 
 the sense o't?" 
 
 "Never fear! she can read well enough." 
 
 "An 'eathen like 'er read! God 'elpus! 'tis 
 more than I can do meself . I 'm but a poor schol- 
 ard at books, though I can make me mark with the 
 best o' 'em. But think ye the letter will satisfy 
 'er?" 
 
 "It must." 
 
 "I 'ope it may, with all me 'art, for I 'm free to 
 say I 'm scared o' the creature. But I '11 fetch the 
 writin' things, since 'tis your honor's bidding, for 
 a man come back to 'is senses is not to be gainsaid." 
 Taking advantage of the good woman's absence 
 from the room, Zach got up and dressed, feeling 
 still a little unsettled and giddy. 
 
 " 'Ere they are, such as they be," exclaimed the
 
 482 ZAUHARY PIIIPS. 
 
 landlady, bouncing in with the writing materials. 
 " 'T is none o' the best, that pen, but ye may make 
 shift to mark with it if ye bear a thought to the 
 right, and for the ink, I 'ave added a drop o' vine- 
 gar." 
 
 " Very well ; and now, my good friend, while I 
 am writing the letter, make haste and go for the 
 carriage ! " 
 
 "That will I, never fear, for fair spoken and 
 civil as ye be, I '11 make no secret to yer honor I 
 shall be relieved to 'ave me 'ouse well quit o' ye." 
 
 "How is that?" 
 
 "The neighbors are making trouble, if ye must 
 know, sir; and to be round wi' ye," fixing a suspi- 
 cious glance on her wondering lodger, " 't is thought 
 ye 'ad an 'and in it yerself." 
 
 "A hand in what?" 
 
 "The great conspiracy." 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 "So much the better, if ye be as innocent as ye 
 look!" 
 
 "Speak out, woman," cried the lodger impa- 
 tiently, "what are you talking about?" 
 
 "Wy, sir, if ye must 'ave it, 't was the very 
 night ye were brought 'ere, and 't was that gave it 
 the ugly look, a bloody plot was brought to light 
 to murder all the government lords w'ile they sat at 
 dinner. But the truth leaked out, and the wretches 
 were caught, as they waited yonder in an old sta- 
 ble "- 
 
 " Eh, stable er wh-where was that ? " 
 
 "Yonder in Cato Street, through the alloy and
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 483 
 
 round two corners, not a stone's throw away. But 
 some o' the rascals escaped, though there 's strong 
 'opes they will be caught, and that all will 'ang for 
 it." 
 
 Moved by this strange intelligence, and mindful 
 of the anxiety which his prolonged absence from 
 home must have caused, the patient jumped up and 
 staggered around the room in an agitation so ex- 
 treme as to excite anew the attention of his already 
 suspicious landlady. 
 
 Perceiving this, he presently sat down, and mus- 
 tering his self-control, said with the evident purpose 
 of quieting the woman's very natural doubts as to 
 his character, 
 
 " Stay, my good woman ! I ' ve changed my mind ! 
 Instead of going for a cab, as I bade you, send some- 
 body to my residence in Baker Street, and bid them 
 send a servant and a carriage forthwith to take me 
 home. Wait ! I '11 write a word, that they may 
 know the message is from me! " 
 
 Scribbling two or three lines on a visiting-card, 
 he tossed it to the relieved woman, who, with confi- 
 dence now in some measure restored, showed due 
 alacrity in obeying his orders. 
 
 Within two hours the carriage was at the door, 
 and the patient was helped into it, having first in- 
 trusted to the landlady's care a letter for Malee and 
 discharged with fitting liberality the charges for 
 his accommodation. 
 
 Arrived in Baker Street, he found that the fam- 
 ily, in their alarm over his mysterious disappearance, 
 had already consulted the police and sent word to
 
 484 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 Grosvenor Square. In answer to his own eager 
 questions, he received full confirmation of the land- 
 lady's strange tale of the conspiracy. 
 
 The Cato Street plot was, indeed, the talk of 
 the town. Failure doomed it to the rank of a nine- 
 days' wonder, whereas its success might have been 
 blazoned in many a heavy historical chapter of 
 after-event prescience and philosophy. 
 
 Zach briefly explained to Mr. Rush his own in- 
 voluntary part in the affair, which was duly commu- 
 nicated to Lord Harrowby, to be used, if needed, as 
 corroborative evidence in the trial of the culprits. 
 
 Having duly accounted for himself in Baker 
 Street, Zach made the best of his way to Grosvenor 
 Square. The state of suspense in that household 
 over his unexplained absence may be surmised from 
 the fact that Sylvia swooned in his arms, while the 
 shock of his sudden reappearance induced in Fal- 
 coner a recurrence of his old symptoms. 
 
 In the course of the evening Sylvia confided to 
 her lover that of late her father had not been so well, 
 and the physician accordingly had ordered a change 
 of air. 
 
 "Where will he go?" 
 
 "To Bath." 
 
 "And you will go with him?" 
 
 "Certainly." 
 
 To the immense surprise of his betrothed, Zach 
 drew a long, deep breath of relief. 
 
 Pondering this matter as he went homeward, 
 something prompted him to go out of his way to 
 stop at his late humble lodgings in Edgeware Eoud.
 
 ZACHARY PH1PS. 485 
 
 Arriving, he asked the woman if his letter had 
 been delivered. Learning that Malee had not yet 
 returned, he slipped a gold piece into the woman's 
 hand, and bade her, when next the Indian girl ap- 
 peared, to have her privately followed and report to 
 him her whereabouts. 
 
 Deeply preoccupied with his own affairs, Zach 
 was yet not wholly oblivious, as he jolted homeward 
 in his cab, of a certain movement about him, a stir, 
 as it were, in the air, a mysterious happening, as of 
 a passing shadow, which affected the weal of the 
 great populace swarming past and around him. 
 Seeing no act done nor hearing any word spoken 
 confirmatory of this vague impression, it gained no 
 lodgment in his mind, and failed to draw his atten- 
 tion from more absorbing topics. 
 
 In the night, however, this routed impression 
 returned, and his sleep was disturbed by hoarse 
 murmurs and distant cheering of the populace, and 
 by the faint and solemn tolling of bells. 
 
 Next morning, what with want of sleep and the 
 over-excitement and fatigue of the day before, he 
 had perforce to keep his bed. 
 
 Presenting himself for work the succeeding day, 
 he was surprised to see Mr. Rush appear in a sin- 
 gular toilet, namely, a suit of black cloth, without 
 buttons on sleeves or pockets, a long lawn cravat 
 and weeper, chamois shoes and gloves, crape hat- 
 band, black sword and buckles. 
 
 The tolling bells were explained: all the world 
 was in mourning for King George the Third. 
 That worst enemy of England and best friend of
 
 486 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 America, but for whose inspired stupidity it is not 
 too much to say the United States might be still a 
 dependency of the British crown, was dead. 
 
 In the excitement attendant upon the royal 
 obsequies and the accession of a new sovereign, the 
 American minister and his household were neces- 
 sarily more or less involved. Thus some days, filled 
 mainly with ceremonial detail, followed, in which 
 Zach almost forgot the incident of the Cato Street 
 tragedy. It was sharply and unpleasantly recalled 
 to mind by a summons to appear and testify at the 
 trial of the culprits. 
 
 It was a fit morning for such business. The air 
 was raw and chill. The streets were foul with 
 mud. A thick fog weighed like a leaden pall upon 
 the city, and, notwithstanding the street-lamps were 
 lighted, men groped like ghosts through the murky 
 thoroughfares and byways. 
 
 Stumbling along in the wake of a link-boy, Zach 
 came at last to the court-house, the renowned Old 
 Bailey. 
 
 Gazing up for a moment at its frowning facade 
 half lost in the fog, he passed shivering in through 
 the black hole of entrance. Thence, hemmed in by 
 a rough and sordid crowd, he was borne along to 
 the court -room. 
 
 The spacious hall, disfigured by age and hard 
 usage, had yet a grimy impressiveness. A blaze of 
 lights about the bench drove the fog for the time 
 being into the corners. About the walls, oozing 
 with moisture, Zach spelled out in the pale, half light 
 warning and ominous texts,
 
 ZACUAEY PUIPS. 487 
 
 "A false witness shall not go nnpunished, and he 
 that speaketh lies shall perish." 
 
 "Ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither 
 shalt thou profane the name of thy God." 
 
 "If a false witness rise up against any man to 
 testify against him that which is wrong, then thou 
 shalt do unto him as he had thought to do unto his 
 brother." 
 
 The crier bawled some unintelligible lingo. Up 
 out of the thick outer fog his Honor appeared, in 
 the grim majesty of gown and wig. The trial be- 
 gan. The lawyers, flinging about their black robes, 
 looked like enormous bats. They wrangled with 
 each other ; they bullied the witnesses, with the ap- 
 parent approval of the bench. His Honor, anon 
 rising in foggy voluminousness, charged the awe- 
 struck jury with fatal clearness and significance. 
 
 The jury disappeared in the fog, and came back 
 in ten minutes with a verdict of guilty ; whereupon 
 five of the culprits were sentenced to be hanged. 
 
 Appalled by the swiftness and tragic result of the 
 procedure, Zach fought his way to the outer air 
 through the rank multitude waiting to batten on 
 further horrors. 
 
 Reaching home, he found a messenger awaiting 
 him, an ill-conditioned fellow, who emerged from a 
 dark corner of the hall, and approaching said in a 
 mysterious whisper, * 
 
 "I found her." 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "Beant you the gent was in Edgeware Road?" 
 
 "Yes."
 
 488 ZACHARY PHI PS. 
 
 '^Come along o' me, then." 
 
 "What do you mean? " 
 
 "The neger-woman, I found 'er for ye. I 
 tracked 'er 'ome, but 'f ye want to see 'er, come 
 quick, for I mistrust she 's on the go ! "
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 "SHE goes it like a race'orse, that un, she does! 
 Blest if I 'ad n't to run to keep hup vith 'er, an' 
 she never pulls hup till Temple Bar, ven she stops 
 for a go at the letter, an' I 'ad a chance to get me 
 vind." 
 
 "She read the letter, then?" 
 
 " That did she, hover an' hover, till she 'ad it be 
 'art, you'd think; then folds it hup in a rag, an' 
 tucks it hinto 'er bosom." 
 
 "And then "- 
 
 " Then avay she goes agin like mad, an' I close 
 on 'er 'eels be'ind like a fox'ound." 
 
 "And you found where she lives? " 
 
 " Never trust me, if I did n't ! I tracked 'er down 
 at last, an' a rum 'ole it is, I can tell ye." 
 
 "Bad, was it?" 
 
 " Bad for a dog it vas, leave alone o' a Chrestian, 
 not that this 'ere is rightly a Chrestian." 
 
 "And when you got there " 
 
 " On me vord, but I thought we never vould get 
 anyv'eres, but of a suddint she stops short an' 
 squats 'er down on the ground in front o' a 'ouse." 
 
 "And you"- 
 
 "I dodges down a passage an' keeps me hi on 'er, 
 ven I '11 be 'anged if she does n't pidl hout that 'ere 
 letter an' at it agin."
 
 490 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 "By an' by she starts hup an' clutches a holt o' 
 'er frock an' stares round in a vay she was goin' to 
 speak, ven along comes a cove an' squints at 'er, an' 
 she darts hinto the 'ouse like a rabbit." 
 
 This talk between Zach and the messenger was 
 interrupted by the arrival of the carriage which had 
 been sent for. 
 
 It took them a half hour and more to reach their 
 destination, a wretched tenement house in one of 
 the worst parts of the town. 
 
 It was not only a new phase of London to the 
 astonished beholder, it was a new phase of life. It 
 presented an object-lesson of destitution, squalor, 
 and every form of human abasement, whicli he may 
 well have remembered to the end of his days. 
 
 With a sickened look he climbed the rickety outer 
 steps and knocked at a battered door, which, stand- 
 ing half open, revealed an interior foul with dirt 
 and reeking with stenches. 
 
 A beery old hag answered the summons, but view- 
 ing the stranger with a suspicious eye, disclaimed 
 any knowledge of the object of his search. 
 
 A half - crown made her more communicative. 
 After a pretense of reflection, she at last remem- 
 bered a lodger answering the description of Malee, 
 whom she designated as a stuck-up hussy, who gave 
 herself great airs and would have nothing to say to 
 anybody; who, moreover, was gone for days at a 
 time, the Lord knew where, and when at home 
 walked the floor all night in her leather stockings ; 
 who in fine kept no hours, had no habits, and con-
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 491 
 
 sequently it was quite impossible to say when or 
 where she could be found. 
 
 Zach, as may be surmised, drove away in a very 
 uncomfortable frame of mind. Clearly, Malee's 
 fine friends had deserted her, and she must have 
 been driven to desperate straits to hide herself 
 away in these loathsome slums. 
 
 Musing in this vein, as they traversed the crowded 
 thoroughfare, blocked from time to time by the 
 press of vehicles, he was presently aroused by a cry 
 from the boy on the box. 
 
 "There, there! Look, yer honor! there she 
 be for ye now! " 
 
 Zach gazed eagerly from the carriage -window. 
 There, indeed, on the sidewalk a few yards from 
 him, stood Malee ! 
 
 Her appearance added the last feather to Zach's 
 load of remorse. The physical glory which had 
 once surrounded her like an atmosphere, the free- 
 dom of carriage, the buoyancy of movement, the 
 look of tireless vigor, of affluent vitality, were gone. 
 Gaunt, listless, hollow-eyed, consumed by an inward 
 fever, she wandered like a lost spirit reckless of her 
 course. Draped about her, now soiled and draggled, 
 were the fine gown and shawl in which at Lord 
 Westmoreland's rout she had encountered the fash- 
 ion of London. 
 
 Shocked beyond the power of word or movement, 
 Zach sat for a moment like one paralyzed. It was 
 a momentflost forever. The words of the boy, re- 
 peated in a shriller tone, caught the quick ear of 
 the Indian. Her eyes fell upon the carriage and its
 
 492 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 occupant, and with a suppressed outcry she darted 
 away amid the throng, and before Zach could reach 
 the sidewalk through the serried vehicles she was 
 lost to sight. 
 
 Determined now to take prompt and effective 
 measures for the relief of the unfortunate girl, Zach 
 drove straight to police headquarters, and left a de- 
 scription of her person, with a request to be noti- 
 fied as soon as she was found. 
 
 Having thus, as it seemed, done all he could for 
 the time being, he strove by a strenuous application 
 to work and a vigorous attempt at forgetfulness to 
 quiet certain conscientious qualms which persis- 
 tently associated themselves with the subject. 
 
 What made this more difficult was the fact 
 that Sylvia and her father had already gone to 
 Bath. The shutting up of the Grosvenor Square 
 house cut off, in effect, the larger part of his life, 
 and narrowed him down to his somewhat meagre 
 personal resources. 
 
 His delight may therefore be readily conceived 
 when, on returning one afternoon from a gloomy 
 drive in the park, he found Sandy awaiting him in 
 the ante-room. A ghost could not have given him 
 a greater surprise. 
 
 The skipper, who had thought it necessary, on 
 making so grand a visit, to sacrifice to the proprie- 
 ties by putting on a linen shirt and a suit of black 
 broadcloth, looked so comically ill at ease that Zach, 
 the greetings over, scrupled not to laugh ^itright. 
 
 "What are you doing in that landlubber rig?" 
 he cried. "Come upstairs, and unharness! "
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 493 
 
 Seated in the privacy of Zach's room, with coat 
 and cravat discarded and collar thrown back, the 
 skipper was himself again. 
 
 The two regarded each other with undisguised 
 interest. 
 
 "And how goes the world, shipmate ? " began 
 Zach, drawing up his chair and struggling with a 
 moment's constraint in adjusting himself to the old 
 intimacy. 
 
 "Huh! " answered the sailor with a little dispar- 
 aging grunt, delightful to the eager listener as a 
 vivid reminder of old times. "Go! it don't go; it 
 stands as stock still as a balky mule, 'cept for 
 grindin' away at yer flesh an' blood! " 
 
 "You at any rate need not complain," continued 
 Zach, recognizing in his companion certain comfort- 
 able evidences of health and prosperity. 
 
 "Eh?" 
 
 "You hold your own, I say." 
 
 "The devil! No, I don't; wall, 't ain't much ef 
 I do. Fer looks, I dunno, fer I hain't took a squint 
 in a glass sence I can remember, but I feel older 'n 
 Methusalem, 'n I 'm a-gittin' as creaky in the j'ints 
 as an old windmill." 
 
 "Too much living alone; the way to cure that is 
 to get married," suggested Zach, with the positive- 
 ness of a recent convert. 
 
 "Merried! I? Thunder! th' ain't nothin' in 
 petticoats so hard put to it fer a pilot that she 'd 
 take me aboard." 
 
 "Pooh! you never tried." 
 
 "Wall, it's true I did n't never what ye may
 
 494 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 say sail straight down on anythin', but I 've tacked 
 an' jibed 'bout a good many small craft, and I never 
 hed no signals run up fer me yit." 
 
 "Never fear! your turn 's coming. One of these 
 days, when you get your stocking full " 
 
 "The Lord Harry, Bub ! stockin' ? there 's too 
 many holes in my stockin' ever to fill up." 
 
 "Ho, ho! the old story. Just now there seems to 
 be a hole in your pipe. Here, have another charge. 
 How 'd you come over? in the 'Malviny ' ? " 
 
 "What, thet little critter? I a'most forgot I ever 
 owned her." 
 
 "Got a better one now?" 
 
 "Wall, I dunno 'bout thet." 
 
 "A three-master, I '11 bet." 
 
 "Yeah, I b'lieve she hed when I left her." 
 
 "Hooray! and you own the whole of her? " 
 
 "I s'pose I do, what ther is on her." 
 
 "And grumbling about hard luck yet, you un- 
 mitigated old growler! " 
 
 " 'T ain't no gret for luck, Bub ; what with bad 
 runs, an' repairs, she costs more 'n she comes to." 
 
 Zach laughed and changed the subject. 
 
 "When 'd you get in?" 
 
 "Made Liverpool a week ago come Tuesday, with 
 a load o' wheat. Left the mate to onload, an' 
 thought I'd" - 
 
 "Come and hunt me up." 
 
 "Thet's 'boutit.'* 
 
 "The same old hearty as ever," cried Zach jump- 
 ing up with an old-time impulse and shaking hands 
 over again. "I 'm glad to see you, mighty glad!
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 495 
 
 We '11 have a good time. We '11 do whatever you 
 like. By and by, when you get your breath, we '11 
 go out and see the town." 
 
 "I reckon thet ain't no small job. Swear to 
 man, Bub, ef it didn't kind o' take my breath. 
 Didn't seem to be no eend to it, as I come along 
 this mornin'." 
 
 "A pretty big town." 
 
 "It must take 'bout the whole island," continued 
 Sandy reflectively. "Ther can't be enough left fer 
 more '11 a strip round the aidge to turn in." 
 
 Zach laughed, and brought forth from the chim- 
 ney closet a brandy bottle and some glasses. 
 
 "Humph!" sighed the skipper, drawing a long 
 breath of satisfaction after his dram. "I dunno 
 whether it 's the rum, Bub, or 'cause I 'm gittin' 
 ye focused, but ye 're jest beginnin' to look a leetle 
 grain as ye used ter." 
 
 "Did you find me changed?" 
 
 "Lord's massy! ther war n't nothin' 't all to go 
 by, fust off, but it 's a-comin' back, now." 
 
 "What's the matter?" asked Zach, with an 
 amused look. 
 
 "Wall, for one thing, ye 're a good deal more 
 spindlin' 'n ye used ter be; then yer gittin' a kind 
 o' drawed look 'bout the mouth, as ef ye was all the 
 time a-contrivin' an' a-schemin'." 
 
 The listener laughed uneasily. 
 
 "Things goin' all right, I hope? " 
 
 "First rate." 
 
 "Did n't know but mebbe you was a leetle down 
 in the mouth 'bout sunthin'."
 
 496 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 "Oh, no." 
 
 "No chance o' yer ever comin' back to the States, 
 I s'pose?" 
 
 "Not very soon, I fear." 
 
 The skipper knocked the ashes out of his pipe and 
 charged it again in silence, giving the fruit of his 
 minute's reflection as he threw the charred match 
 on the floor. 
 
 "Wall, Bub, this 'ere 's mebbe all right fer your 
 kind o' business, but fer a place to live in, for what 
 ye may call a country, why, hang it! 't ain't a 
 country, it's nothin' but an island, with more 
 fokes to the square inch, wall I can't think o' 
 nothin' but flies on a spot o' merlasses. Ye may 
 laugh as much as ye like, but I swear, I feel kind 
 o' hoggish breathin' all the air I need, fer fear 
 I 'm gittin' more 'n my share." 
 
 This truly American criticism drew from Zach 
 a loud laugh, as he refilled his friend's glass. Their 
 further conversation was, however, interrupted by 
 a call from Mr. Hush for his secretary, and the two 
 accordingly separated with an engagement to spend 
 the evening together. 
 
 During the skipper's visit of two or three days 
 in London, Zach devoted much time to his old friend, 
 and wound up by promising to run down to Liver- 
 pool and give him a send-off when his ship was 
 ready to sail. 
 
 Reviewing the many pleasant incidents of the visit 
 on the night of Sandy's departure, Zach was struck 
 by a happy thought. He started to his feet, and 
 walked about the room with a look of asritation.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 497 
 
 Why not get the skipper to take Malee home to 
 America? He would look out for her comfort, and 
 contrive to have her taken back to her kindred. 
 With his mind full of the project, the secretary went 
 to bed. 
 
 Next day, however, a new and more engrossing 
 subject for thought came to claim his attention. 
 
 As Mr. Rush was going over his morning's mail, 
 he read out as an item of passing interest that the 
 post of United States secretary of legation at St. 
 Petersburg was vacant. 
 
 Absorbed in his dispatches, the unsuspecting min- 
 ister did not notice what a sensation his announce- 
 ment had made. Indeed, he had quite forgotten 
 the matter, when, a few hours later, Zach, with a 
 flushed face, but a sufficiently resolute tone, appeared 
 before him, and after a little hemming and hawing, 
 announced himself as a candidate for the vacant 
 place. 
 
 As his world-wise superior showed no surprise 
 and made no comment, the secretary, with a deepen- 
 ing flush, demanded his opinion upon the matter. 
 
 " There are only two things against it that I can 
 see," answered the minister quietly, "two important 
 but not insuperable objections ; that is to say, youth 
 and inexperience." 
 
 The secretary looked at once abashed and encour- 
 aged. 
 
 " Would you be willing, sir, to say so much in 
 my behalf? " faltered the undiscouraged aspirant. 
 
 "I will cheerfully say that and much more." 
 
 "Thank you very much; and what do you think
 
 498 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 is the best way to go to work to secure the posi- 
 tion?" 
 
 "The most straightforward way possible. Write 
 at once to Mr. Adams, applying for it, and then 
 lose no time in going over to support your petition 
 in person." 
 
 "Will it, then, be necessary for me to go to 
 America? " 
 
 "It will be advisable; with Mr. Adams a half 
 hour's talk will avail more than a ream of correspon- 
 dence." 
 
 "But if the President " - 
 
 "You will do better to go directly to the Secretary 
 of State in this matter." 
 
 "But that will be leaving you short-handed." 
 
 "I will manage, and so far as I am concerned, 
 you may set about your preparations at once. It is 
 an opportunity not to be neglected. Your chances 
 of success are, at least, fair. Meantime, I will give 
 you a letter to Mr. Adams." 
 
 For some hours Zach's head was in a whirl. He 
 was too excited to think clearly. Next morning, 
 when he had in a measure recovered his self-control, 
 he wrote two letters, one to Sylvia, advising her of 
 his proposed voyage and its object, the other to 
 Sandy, asking his date of sailing and announcing 
 himself and Malee as possible passengers. 
 
 By return of mail came a note from Sylvia, im- 
 ploring him to go at once to Bath. As he was 
 about to make the trip of his own motion, he lost 
 no time in accepting the invitation. 
 
 To his discomfiture, he found Sylvia greatly
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 499 
 
 stirred up over the news. She was strongly against 
 the whole project. She detested St. Petersburg, 
 without knowing anything about it. She was con- 
 tent to have him stay in London and remain a pri- 
 vate secretary. All his powers of logic failed to 
 convince the specious little malcontent. The dis- 
 cussion between them lasted the whole evening, and 
 she went to bed unreconciled and rebellious. 
 
 Left alone with Falconer, Zach renewed the sub- 
 ject. The father proved more reasonable than the 
 daughter. Indeed, he warmly approved the young 
 man's disposition to advance himself. He had, 
 moreover, a word of his own to say. After gazing 
 intently at his companion for some minutes, he 
 broke out, 
 
 "You are twenty-three years old, you say? " 
 
 "That was last year." 
 
 "Twenty -four, then, and Sylvia is" 
 
 "Nineteen." 
 
 "Humph! and you may be gone for months in 
 the States?" 
 
 "I shall make what haste I can." 
 
 "I know, I know; but such business moves slowly. 
 Then things may happen obstacles. It must take 
 months, and I " * 
 
 The speaker paused, and Zach looked at him in- 
 quiringly. 
 
 "May go off at any moment." 
 
 "Pray, don't say so, sir! You are growing bet- 
 ter every day." 
 
 "Tut, tut! that talk is well enough before her. 
 With you, I can be frank. The truth is," contin-
 
 500 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 ued the invalid, a cloud perceptibly settling over his 
 face, " 1 am not growing better. I am losing ground. 
 Every attack leaves me weaker, and so I repeat, the 
 probability is I shall not live to see your return." 
 
 "I do not admit it I will not recognize it." 
 
 "That being so," continued the sick man, un- 
 heeding the interruption, "it behooves me to rec- 
 ognize and provide for such an emergency. You 
 and Sylvia have been betrothed how long? " 
 
 "Nearly a year." 
 
 "Very good; now, I have been thinking, since 
 you came, that considering the probable length of 
 your absence, considering the precariousness of my 
 health, considering the further fact that upon my 
 death Sylvia will be left without any near relative 
 who might serve as a natural guardian and adviser, 
 that you had better " 
 
 "Better," echoed Zach, breathless with agitation 
 and suspense. 
 
 "Get married before you go! "
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 IT is using very mild language to say that Zach 
 was dumfounded by Falconer's quiet suggestion. 
 He spent the night in a dizzying state of upheaval, 
 during which some strenuous efforts at self-control 
 availed little. He had, perforce, to wait until cus- 
 tom could stale his rapture and bring a seeming 
 phantasm to the focus of commonplace vision. 
 
 When his pulses had duly slowed down, however, 
 he recognized the suggestion as worldly wise. There 
 seemed, indeed, but one obstacle in the way of its 
 realization, and this, from a mole-hill, speedily de- 
 veloped into a mountain. Would Sylvia consent ? 
 
 Betimes next morning he set himself to resolve the 
 doubt. Falconer helped him to an opportunity by 
 going off for his morning's drive, in which Sylvia 
 usually accompanied him. 
 
 Left with his betrothed, Zach delayed not to 
 broach the matter. 
 
 "Heigho!" he began, with a prodigious sigh. 
 "I shall soon be off, now! " 
 
 "To America?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Perhaps you may not go; I pray every night 
 that something may happen to hinder." 
 
 "If it were only going. But I have been think- 
 ing what a long, long time I shall be away."
 
 502 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 "How long?" 
 
 "An eternity." 
 
 "A man's or woman's eternity?' 
 
 "Both, months, at least! " 
 
 " Oh, I cannot bear it ! You shall not go ! How 
 I hate this sordid ambition which has lately seized 
 you! Who knows what may happen to you there? " 
 
 "I am thinking what may happen to you." 
 
 A look of distress passed over her face, and she 
 put her hand to his lips. 
 
 "Hush! Don't speak of that! I shut my eyes 
 to everything but the little stretch of the way I 
 daily see before me. I dare not look beyond! " 
 
 "That is right for you, darling. You must keep 
 a bright face for him. But I must needs look be- 
 yond. I must think of everything which may befall 
 you when I am not here to comfort and protect my 
 little one." 
 
 "Think of it if you must, but do not, I beg, 
 speak of it ; for if " 
 
 He interrupted her with a caress. 
 
 "I speak of it now for a purpose." 
 
 "What a terrible word! " 
 
 " I have been thinking that, for my sake, for your 
 sake, for everybody's sake, before I go, I ought 
 we ought to be married ! " 
 
 "Married!" she repeated breathlessly. "Why, 
 Zach Wh-what are you thinking of ? How can I 
 what would Papa would never consent. Oh, 
 't is impossible ! " 
 
 "Is it only the thought of him that deters you? " 
 
 "Ye-es I that is But 'tis so short a 
 time!"
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 503 
 
 "And do you mind that?" 
 
 " No-o, I but papa would oh, very decidedly. " 
 
 "We can, at least, consult him." 
 
 "It would be of no use." 
 
 "Let us try, at any rate." 
 
 "I know what he will say. He has very old- 
 fashioned prejudices in such things. He would think 
 it scandalous to dispatch so important a matter 
 in such haste. And if he objects, if he shows any 
 hesitation, I beg you, dearest, not to press it upon 
 him. He would only become more fixed in his 
 opinion, and in his present state of health " 
 
 "Fear nothing, my dear; I promise not to urge 
 him." 
 
 But the anxious daughter, fearing lest her lover's 
 ardor might betray him into saying something un- 
 timely, took upon herself the delicate task of break- 
 ing the startling project to the invalid. 
 
 On beholding him, therefore, returned from his 
 drive, and once more comfortably established in his 
 favorite corner, she went and sat on a stool at his 
 feet, and taking one of his hands, opened the con- 
 versation miles and miles away from her objective 
 point. 
 
 "Papa, I think you look better to-day." 
 
 "So?" 
 
 "Yes, the waters must be doing you good." 
 
 "Let us hope so." 
 
 "Perhaps it is the quiet down here that agrees 
 with you." 
 
 "Perhaps." 
 
 "You do not find it too lonely? "
 
 504 ZACHARY PU1PS. 
 
 "No; I always have you and Mason, and Phips, 
 when he comes." 
 
 "Ye-es Oh, yes, when Zach comes, of course, 
 it is different; he brings so much news; but I" 
 hesitating "I am thinking how different it will be 
 when he is gone " 
 
 "Gone?" 
 
 "To America." 
 
 "Oh!" 
 
 "It will be very soon, now." 
 
 "Rsally? " 
 
 "I don't know what we shall do." 
 
 "It will be doleful for you, tied down to a sleepy 
 old woman and a sick old man." 
 
 "Oh, no, no! I didn't think of that. I am 
 always happy to be near you; but it is so far 
 away he will be gone so long, and and so many 
 things may happen to him." 
 
 "True." 
 
 "I he feels very badly about going." 
 
 "Naturally." 
 
 " We have been talking about it, and I he 
 thinks that is says " 
 
 She stopped a moment, took breath, and sum- 
 moned her resolution. 
 
 "Papa dear, I am making dreadful work of this; 
 I have something to tell you." 
 
 "Indeed!" 
 
 "Yes, and you must not be shocked or astonished, 
 or let it affect you in any way. It is only one of 
 Zach's wild harum-scarum schemes, which is too 
 absurd to be thought of, and I should never in the
 
 ZACHABY PHIPS. 505 
 
 world consent to it for a moment, only I he is so 
 persistent and headstrong I promised him just 
 to keep him quiet that I would speak to you 
 about it, and" 
 
 "Goon, my child!" 
 
 "Why, he" she interposed a deprecating little 
 laugh "he insists that we he and I we have 
 been betrothed a long time now, you remember 
 shall" 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 "Shall get married before he goes! " 
 
 Clutching her father's hands tightly in her own, 
 she looked up, breathless and terrified, in his face, 
 as if expecting to see him fall to the floor. 
 
 Instead, however, of betraying any emotion, he 
 looked at his agitated daughter with a quiet smile, 
 saying, 
 
 "I entirely agree with him." 
 
 On his return to London, Zach found a note sum- 
 moning him to police headquarters. He went at 
 once, and was there informed by the officer in charge 
 that during his absence Malee had been found, that 
 having, however, no orders to arrest her, they had 
 simply put her under surveillance, pending his re- 
 turn. But thereupon, taking alarm, she had since 
 eluded the vigilance of the experienced detective 
 who was shadowing her, and had again disappeared. 
 
 Inciting the chagrined officials to renewed efforts 
 by promise of a liberal reward, and warning them 
 of the cunning and address which the refugee had 
 inherited as a part of her birthright, Zach went
 
 506 ZACHARY PHIPS. 
 
 home so confident of success that he wrote a letter 
 to Sandy informing him of his approaching marriage, 
 and confirming his former request of a passage for 
 himself and the hapless Indian. 
 
 Meantime, the Falconers returned to town and 
 set on foot preparations for the wedding. Although 
 it was agreed by all that the ceremony should be as 
 simple as possible, it was amazing how many prep- 
 arations Mason and Sylvia found indispensable, 
 what countless things they thought needful to be 
 done, and what a prodigious bustle they contrived 
 to make over it. Zach looked on in consternation. 
 Very little attention was paid to him or Falconer 
 during those hours of "post haste and romage," in 
 the household. He was puzzled to find of how little 
 consequence he was in this transaction, which was 
 so nearly to affect his life and happiness. 
 
 Fortunately, perhaps, he was kept busier than 
 usual in his desire to leave everything ship-shape at 
 the embassy, and so had fewer opportunities of 
 going to Grosveuor Square. 
 
 There, it seemed, he invariably found Sylvia oc- 
 cupied, and was perforce turned over to Falconer to 
 be entertained. The two humbled supernumeraries 
 had thus divers long visits together, during which the 
 elder, profiting by his opportunity, informed Zach 
 of all the details of his American affairs, which the 
 young man was commissioned to settle. 
 
 On one of these occasions, Zach, on rising to go, 
 with an air of ill-concealed satisfaction handed to 
 his future father-in-law the following letter of intro- 
 duction, given him by Mr. Rush for presentation to 
 the American Secretary of State.
 
 ZACHARY PHIPS. 507 
 
 HON. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 
 
 Sir, I take pleasure in recommending to your 
 favorable consideration the bearer of this note, Mr. 
 Zachary Phips, formerly of Boston in your own 
 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who for the past 
 two years has been acting as my private secretary 
 in this city. 
 
 I beg to say most explicitly of Mr. Phips that in 
 my opinion he is a young man of high character and 
 unusual talent ; that he is at once bold, prudent, and 
 cool-headed ; and in certain exigencies of affairs here 
 has repeatedly acted with admirable judgment. 
 
 I would add, moreover, that he is well equipped 
 by special study for his work, that he has had an ex- 
 perience peculiarly adapted to develop self-reliance, 
 and that barring some unforeseen disaster he is sure 
 to attain a distinguished position in the honorable 
 profession which he has adopted. 
 
 I am, sir, with renewed assurances of respect and 
 esteem, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 KICHARD RUSH. 
 
 Meanwhile Time, "rolling his ceaseless course," 
 brought on the momentous day. 
 
 Amidst all the hurry and preoccupation of the 
 final hours, Zach bethought him with dismay that 
 nothing had been heard of Malee. The reflection 
 caused him extreme and evident anxiety. Moved 
 by a vague suspicion of he knew not what, he or- 
 dered detectives to be placed on guard about the 
 house in Grosvenor Square.
 
 508 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 On the morning of the wedding-day, at the last 
 minute, Sandy arrived. He announced his ship as 
 ready to sail, and waiting only for her passengers. 
 In addition to the black broadcloth suit, he had 
 now donned a pair of white gloves, he looked 
 supremely wretched. 
 
 The ceremony was to take place at high noon in 
 the old church of St. Martin's. On the part of the 
 groom, besides the unhappy skipper, there were 
 present Mr. and Mrs. Kush, Sir Benjamin West, 
 and a sprinkling of young diplomatists, secretaries 
 and attaches of the different foreign embassies. On 
 the part of the bride there was a small party, com- 
 posed of the distant relatives and intimate friends 
 of the family. 
 
 A slight disturbance in the gallery interrupted 
 for a moment the ceremony, as the groom was about 
 pronouncing his solemn vow, a noise like the fall- 
 ing of a bench and the rushing of muffled feet. 
 The incident caused a momentary agitation among 
 the few curiosity -seekers whom the ceremony had 
 attracted upstairs, but it was over directly, and 
 nothing more was thought of it. 
 
 Certainly if the bride heard she had not heeded it, 
 as on the arm of her new-made husband she came 
 beaming down the aisle in a flood of sunshine which, 
 falling through the southern windows, filled all the 
 nave with amber light. As for the groom, in the 
 solemn joy of the moment he would not have heeded 
 an earthquake. 
 
 The reception which followed was unduly large. 
 It had been a whim of Falconer's that nobody should
 
 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 509 
 
 be omitted, and accordingly a gay and fashionable 
 mob filled the house for several hours. 
 
 The host, however, had overestimated his own 
 strength. Wearying soon of the bustle and excite- 
 ment, he was obliged to withdraw in the midst of the 
 festivities. Thus more responsibility of entertain- 
 ment fell upon the wedded pair. 
 
 Not until the short London day was quite spent 
 did the last guest depart. 
 
 The new-made man and wife were left alone. 
 Bidding the butler admit nobody, on whatsoever 
 pretext, the weary happy twain shut themselves up 
 in the library, and there in the cosy twilight, before 
 the flickering embers, sat in speechless content. 
 
 And there in that long-dreamt of, long-remem- 
 bered hour, if so be it can ever come to incarnate 
 spirit, the spell of unutterable joy and peace fell 
 upon them. 
 
 Neither profaned the sacred hush with a spoken 
 word, but mingling with Zach's transports came 
 remembrances of all the long, hard, weary way lead- 
 ing up to this blissful goal, remembrances of that 
 humble home in Salutation Alley of Burr and his 
 great conspiracy of the sweet days, the studious 
 solitary days at Basswood of the fiery ordeal of 
 the war of the forest life at Suwanee, and all 
 that came after. 
 
 Envy itself could not have grudged him the hard- 
 earned satisfaction of the retrospect, as he followed 
 the toiling wayfarer and noted the pluck and con- 
 stancy which had won him the race. 
 
 Was then the retrospect all unclouded ! Did no
 
 510 ZACHAEY PHIPS. 
 
 shadow of remorse anywhere darken the path and 
 linger to dim the supreme joy of the present mo- 
 ment? 
 
 A low tap at the door interrupted these musings. 
 The dreamers were aroused as from an enchanted 
 sleep. A second and third time the knock was 
 heard, when Zach, with a scowl, arose and went to 
 the door. 
 
 After a long whispered conference with somebody 
 in the hall, he came back to his astonished bride. 
 
 "Dearest," he said gravely, "there is an impor- 
 tant matter which claims my instant attention. I 
 must leave you for a little while, an hour, per- 
 haps more. I will come back as soon as possible." 
 
 "Mr. Kush has sent for you? " 
 
 "No." 
 
 "It is not business, then? " 
 
 "No; it is something more imperative than busi- 
 ness; it is duty." 
 
 "But why can it not wait? " 
 
 "Believe me, darling, nothing but absolute neces- 
 sity would take me from you for a moment. I must 
 go, indeed, I must ! I promise not to be long." 
 
 Her withholding hands barred his every step to 
 the door ; her clinging lips would never say farewell. 
 It was with gentle force that he at last freed him- 
 self and rushed into the open air. 
 
 A hackney-coach was in waiting, an inspector of 
 police sat within. Slamming the door upon his pas- 
 sengers, the coachman drove rapidly away. 
 
 Turning from the broad, well-lighted thorough-
 
 ZACIIARY PUIPS. 511 
 
 fares, they plunged into the poorer quarter of the 
 town, an interminable distance, with countless 
 turns and windings. A raw wind blew in through 
 the open coach windows, reeking with foulest odors. 
 
 Bumping and bouncing over hillocks of offal and 
 through puddles of filthy water, they threaded the 
 mipaved byways given over to poverty, pestilence, 
 and crime. 
 
 After the lapse of a full hour, prolonged by sus- 
 pense to many times its normal length, they drew up 
 at last before a squat building in a dark, narrow 
 street close upon the river. 
 
 At a summons from the inspector, the door 
 slowly opened, showing an ill - lighted passage. 
 Stumbling along in the wake of his guide, Zach was 
 ushered into a small room, where a burly official 
 sat half asleep behind a desk. 
 
 In answer to a murmured explanation from the 
 inspector, this person nodded and rang a bell. 
 
 Soon there appeared behind a grating at the back 
 of the room a grimy-looking man with a lantern. 
 Obeying a gesture from the official behind the desk, 
 the new-comer unlocked a door in the grating, and 
 Zach and his guide were admitted. Following down 
 another long passage, they were ushered into a large 
 vaulted room, or hall, dimly lighted by a lantern 
 swung from the roof. 
 
 The icy dampness of the place struck a chill to 
 the very marrow of those entering. Through the 
 unglazed grated windows the river outside could be 
 heard lapping and plashing against its slimy burners. 
 The swaying lantern of their guide cast long jets of
 
 512 ZACHABY PHIPS. 
 
 light up and down the dark stone walls, showing 
 them dripping with moisture. 
 
 Disposed in a straggling line down the middle of 
 the room were a score of benches, some of which 
 seemed occupied by sleeping figures. 
 
 Sunk deep in slumber they must have been, 
 those figures, for not one of them so much as 
 stirred upon the entrance of their visitors. 
 
 Before one of these benches the grim guide 
 stopped, and, unceremoniously pulling a coarse drap- 
 ery from the sleeper, motioned Zach to approach. 
 
 White and rigid, he obeyed. 
 
 His suspense is at an end. The search at last is 
 over. The quarry has been hunted down. 
 
 Disfigured no longer by the tawdry rags of civil- 
 ization, she wears again her native dress : the tunic, 
 wrought with quills of porcupine, the embroidered 
 leggins, the beaded moccasins, and the eagle plume 
 crowning her black locks. 
 
 "The river? " hoarsely murmured the dismayed 
 beholder. 
 
 Shaking his head, the official glumly pointed to 
 the hilt of a hunting knife gleaming amidst the dis- 
 ordered drapery. 
 
 But what is there besides, that other glittering 
 object clutched so tightly in the icy hand? 
 
 Bending low over the pulseless bosom, Zach stoops 
 to see, and recognizes a small hand-mirror !