"And so am I--why, we have rather had a stirring time of it lately, a number of odd circumstances have happened; but what do you make of the commodore's taking on so, as you and Sprawl said he did, when he heard that young De Walden was missing--had he any hand in the young chap, think you?"
"Oh, no," said I laughing, "none; besides he used to keep him tighter set up than any other mid in the ship. However, that would neither make nor mend as to the probability of your surmise, Donovan; but I verily believe he was no connexion of the commodore's."
"Well, well," said Dennis, "give me t'other glass of swizzle, Lennox--thank ye. I say, Lennox, my lad--gallant conduct enough that of yours--after having been so ill too--I wonder you had strength." The man bowed.--"Now since I have had time to consider, what _are_ you going to do with the child there, Dick?" said Donovan.
"Send him on board Gazelle, I presume, when the weather moderates--but, good-night, I am off to my cot--who has the watch, Lennox?"
"Tell him to keep close to the commodore, and call me the instant any thing worth reporting occurs."
"Clearing away fast, sir," answered the marine--"and the sea is greatly gone down."
"Very well, let them trim by the commodore, do you hear--keep way with him, but no more; Sir Oliver likes no one to run past him--tell Mr Peak so."
"Now, good-night, Brail--good-night, Dennis, dear."
When I awoke next morning, the first thing I did was to reconnoitre how our little and most unexpected visitor held out. There lay the fair child, steeped in a balmy slumber, with his downy cheeks as peachlike and blooming as ever; even his hair, with the crystallized salt sparkling amongst it, once more curled thick and clustering round his magnificent forehead.
"Art them a thing of mortal birth, Whose happy home is on our earth? Does human blood with life embue Those wandering veins of heavenly blue, That stray along thy forehead fair, Lost 'mid a gleam of golden hair? Oh, can that light and airy breath Steal from a being doomed to death; Those features to the grave be sent, In sleep thus mutely eloquent? Or art thou what thy form would seem, The phantom of a blessed dream?"
As I stooped over him he awoke, and stretched out his arms in the evident expectation of clasping some one that he had been accustomed to lie beside; alas! they touched the cold hard ship's side. He grew startled, and called on his mother and then on his father, on his grandfather, and his dear aunt Emily, waiting between each exclamation for the wonted caress or answer. His eye caught mine--he looked surprised, and peered anxiously all about the cabin, until at last, as if he really had comprehended the full extent of his desolation, he began to cry bitterly, and to sob as if his little heart would have burst. Lennox and I did every thing in our power to pacify him; but who could come in stead to him of those whose hearts were now cold for ever? I could not stand it, and went on deck, leaving him in the hands of the steward.