Many faces were looking out to the one point
where there was a black patch, and a twinkling
red and green light growing larger every
moment. Many fingers pointed it out to each
other. " See the Haver packet!" said Cobbett,
coming up to Mr. Colter; "we're out of our
course by three hours. Nigh on forty mile.
Only think! Of course it's his affair, and he'll
see what the owners will say."

The captain was on his paddle-box, giving
orders.

"We're going at full speed, you see," said
the mate. "She's a faster boat, and won't lie
by for us. The French skipper knows his dooty
to his company."

"Oh, I see," said Mr. Colter. "Where's
Mrs. Arlington?"

She was in her cabin. By-and-by some boxes
were coming up from the hold. Presently she
herself came up, dressed in her shawls and
cloaks, and with all her baskets and packages.
"I see," said Mr. Colter again.

"Perhaps you do," she said, "but not for
much longer. I am going at last to be set free
from your insolent and unmanly persecutions.
This kind captain is going to put me on board
that vessel which is bound for New York."

By this time a knot of leading passengers had
gathered round, listening with wonder. We
were gradually drawing nearer to the vessel.
The captain was coming down from his paddle-
box with triumph.

"We shall overhaul her yet," he said. "They
have seen our signals. They are getting out the
boat so as to have it ready. They have stopped
at last."

He was turning to go, when Mr. Colter,
suddenly changing his habitual jocular manner,
said: "Just a word with you, captain, before you
move in this matter."

He took him by the arm, and led him away
down to the end of the vessel, the captain going
sulkily. Mrs. Arlington was very restless
during this interview, but she looked very often
towards the dark French ship.

In a moment they both came back. The
captain was very excited.

"I'll not listen to you, sir. You should be
ashamed of yourself. I shan't move in the
business, or listen to such calumnies."

"Brave and gallant protector," she said,
taking the captain's hand. "I knew I had a
friend in you who would stand by me."

"Then you force me to appeal to the
passengers, and to them I shall appeal."

"You would not be so cowardly -- so cruel,"
she said, half imploringly.

"I shall tell them what I know and can prove
as soon as we touch land. I shall tell them that
this woman --"

"Tell what you like," said the captain,
doggedly. "Here's the vessel, and go on board she
shall."

In fact we were now drifting up beside
the great black figure of the French steamer,
breathing and blowing off the steam like a
tired horse. The men were in the boat, and
the trunks were about being swung over the
side.

"Well, then," said Mr. Colter, "if you won't
listen to reason, I shall go too. New York will
be very pleasant, and we have an extradition
treaty with that country."

There was a pause. The two stood looking
at each other, the lady trembling and breathing
hard. The voice of the French captain, was
heard through a speaking-trumpet.

"Well, then," said she, with a sort of dreadful
smile; "since you are so positive in the
matter, I suppose you must have your way. I
am very sorry to have given these foreign
gentlemen all this trouble; but it is better to
submit than to have a scene. I shall never be able,
Mr. Colter, to repay you for all your intrusive
kindness."

She hurried down again to her cabin, but her
last look at the barrister was one no one could
forget.

The vessel was put on her old course.

For some days more the voyage continued.
Still the lady did not come into the cabin for
meals. "I have given her leave," said the
captain, ferociously. "I suppose I have that power
aboard my own ship, and I'd like to see the man
that will dispute it."

"So should I," said Mr. Colter, smiling.
"Poor Jack would be laid in irons, and properly
so. The law gives you full power, cap'en, to a
certain extent. We must all support the law,
cap'en. The legal theory is, that the deck of
every English vessel is a portion of the British
soil."

The captain answered nothing. It was the
last day. We were to be off the coast by evening.
By evening we were off the coast, near a
tongue of land and a lighthouse. But it was
nearly dark. Passengers were all in excitement.
A splash of oars was heard alongside, and the
Customs officers, some green-looking men in
brigand hats, came on board. They went through
the usual business. To our surprise we heard
Mr. Colter talking, in what was apparently
excellent Spanish, with the leader of the party.
The leader was very obsequious, and touched
his hat often. Mr. Colter gave him a letter as
the boat went away --  two were left behind in
charge of the vessel.

Mr. Colter was literally now regarded as a
being of mysterious power.

About nine that night (we were all to land in
the morning) another boat was heard coming
alongside, and a gentleman came up the side,
who in English asked the captain, to see Mr.
Colter. The captain asked his business a little
gruffly. "I am the consul here," said the
other.

Mr. Colter, who was smoking, came up. The
consul took off his hat. "I hope Lord
Boxminster is well," he said, obsequiously. "His
lordship wote to me by the last mail. We
shall do everything we can for you, Mr. Colter.
Would you like to come ashore to-night and
sleep on dry land -- at an hotel? I can manage
that."