remainder of the day is yours: trundle yourselves ashore, all who wish-and say farewell to your friends -kiss your sweethearts-and be jolly for the hour,for to-morrow we set sail. So away with you all!" The hint of the captain was obeyed by more than half his men: but there were some interdicted from a participation in the leave granted to go ashore; and these were a boat's crew of five or six Indians, most of whom, for some offence, had been compelled to enter on board the Leviathan. They were large men, and, as usual with the Indian, strong and muscular; and for that reason had been chosen by Coleman to man the first whale-boat-an honour that was frequently granted to length of wind and dogged endurance, in preference to general activity. The trouble of collecting these fellows again-for it was believed they would not voluntarily return-was the reason assigned for the denial to them of a few hours' liberty ashore. They formed a mess by themselves. Quibby, as the reader is aware, had been placed on board by the Selectmen. He did not, however, partake of his meals with the rest, but was observed to keep aloof, and to brood over his confinement with a grim expression of visage that was any thing but pleasant to look upon. Among those who most eagerly availed themselves of the proffered leave of absence were Starbuck, Gardner, and Imbert. "I know Harry's object in going ashore, well enough," said Imbert to himself; "and wheresoever he goesprovided Mary be there-I will most assuredly be present. There must be no more last words' between them, or I may run a chance of being defeated before I have set out upon my pilgrimage to whaling-land. No, no, my boy!-you don't catch me sleeping now; no more tears, nor kisses, nor love-tokens, without I have a share therein !" Harry and Thomas went to their homes for the purpose of brushing up a little, before seeing their mis tresses for the last leave-taking; but Imbert steered directly for the house of Peleg. He was rigged out in his sailor-clothes; and, like all sailors, was somewhat perfumed with tar. He found Mary melancholy and alone but the unexpected sight of her visiter, in his blue sailor-jacket, which became him well, brought a smile to her features, and revived her spirits. She had made up her mind that the busy affairs of the ship, now on the eve of departure, would prevent the possibility of her again seeing either of her suitors, before their distant return from sea; but she was glad to be thus disappointed. On seeing Imbert, she was sure that Harry would not be long behind him. "You see, Mary, that I have fairly undertaken to execute your cruel commands," said he; and he then added, in playful badinage, "pray, how do you like my new costume? It is every inch a sailor's-isn't it? It is not half so cumbersome as Don Quixote's coat-ofmail, in which he assaulted the windmills; but its wearer, I fear, is going on an expedition equally foolish." "Oh say not so!" said Mary, while a momentary shade came across her countenance: "thy dress becomes thee much-thou wert surely born to wear a sailor's jacket-" "by "For three years at least," answered Imbert; which time I hope to prove an accomplished seaman and whale-killer to boot, for your sake, Mary. Why, I am more than half a sailor already. I have learned the names of all the ropes about the ship, and can point them out, and handle them, as readily as a starved apothecary can find out his drugs by the labels on his boxes and gallipots. I have had my hands in tar, too, as you may perceive; and have turned the laugh upon some of my knowing shipmates, more than once, when they have ventured to suspect me of ignorance. I won the heart of the captain by climbing up the fore-stay, without the assistance of my feet; and have made my brother sailors believe that I think a tub of lobscous the most savoury dish in the world. The only man I have not been able to make my friend is Harry Gardner; and as I am sure he will shortly be here, to assist me in taking a most lachrymose leave of you, I hope you will urge upon him the propriety of showing a better temper in my presence for the future. To end the history of my pilgrim's progress,' I will just give you a short imitation of myself, and show you the way in which I amuse my fellows when off duty: listen, Mary, and don't laugh, while I thunder forth a verse of my favourite sailor's song,- suiting the action to the word, the word to the action :' 'When the sky grows black, and the wind blows hard, Jack mounts up to the topsail-yard, The vapours of Mary entirely gave way before the rattling nonsense and jack-tar imitations of Imbert; and she burst forth into a fit of loud laughter. In the midst of her cachinnatory exercise, Harry Gardner entered the room. He was thunderstruck at finding Imbert there before him, and Mary indulging in such unseemly levity, at a time when decent sighs and tears should have been the prevailing fashion. He hesitated a moment at the doorway, and appeared bewildered at what he saw. His first resolution was to retreat; the next to remain --and he thereupon formally took a chair. "I am glad to see you so merry!" said Harry at last, while his countenance gave the lie to his words. “Ah, Harry, I have been melancholy enough, for a week past, to be pardoned a harmless laugh at the drolleries of this new-made sailor. He tells me that you are to be companions on the voyage, but complains of thy distant and captious conduct towards him on shipboard." "And did he show me up as a subject to excite your merriment, just before I entered your presence ?" demanded Gardner, fiercely. Imbert returned the defying glance of his rival with interest. "Nay, nay-thou art all too hot in thy suspicions: I was but laughing at his imitations of a sailor, while he sang a verse of a sea-song." 66 Then, as I have interrupted the merriment, I will withdraw," said Harry, rising from his chair, hurt-he scarcely knew at what. "Nay-thou takest not leave of Mary in such a guise," said she, extending her hand to him. Harry's anger was chased away by a smile. Mary extended her other hand to Imbert, and beckoned him to approach. "Come hither, both of you," said she, drawing Harry gently into the room again-" there is a hand for each of you, as a pledge of my friendship. It becomes me not to question the reason why you get angry at each other; but, mark me, both―he that hereafter first gives cause of quarrel to the other shall forfeit that friendship for ever. You are to be companions, messmates, for three long years; remember, he that is most forbearing, he that is bravest, and truest to my injunction, may count upon a smile of recognition from Mary when he returns." Mary blushed deeply when she had uttered this, fearing she had exceeded maidenly propriety in thus interfering to secure a permanent courtesy between the rivals. "I know not, Mary," answered Imbert, "whether, by placing your left hand in mine, you intended me to understand that I am held nearest your heart; but I will quit its hold, to offer Gardner the pledge of that hand which has held yours, as a warranty, on my part, of the faithful execution of your commands. Will you meet it, sir?" demanded Imbert, extending his open hand. "I will," replied Gardner, "and pledge you honestly and fairly." "Minnows and mack'rel !" exclaimed Peleg, entering at that moment: "what does all this mean? Bidding farewell, hey? What a shilly-shally set the young men are nowadays! Give the girl a smack, and off to sea with a light heart, my lads: that was the way when I was young!" Neither of the young men dared to obey the command of Peleg; though either would most probably have attempted it, if he had been alone with Mary. The scene was becoming somewhat awkward to manage; and both the young men, as if by mutual consent, motioned to depart. There was a shaking of hands, however; and a farewell, faintly uttered by Mary, and then the rivals disappeared, and walked off together. Thomas Starbuck had, in the mean time, gained admittance to Ruth. He was ushered into the grand parlour of Miriam, where he found Ruth and her mother, and the stick-plaster 'Squire Grimshaw. Ruth placed a chair for Thomas. A long silence ensued, which Miriam and Grimshaw were determined should be sufficiently irksome, so far as they could prolong it by their presence. Ruth and Thomas had a mighty strife within, for words to commence a conversation ; but they died away upon their lips, or stuck fast in their throats. At last, from sheer pity, and to end the long agony, Miriam spoke up. "So, neighbour Thomas," said she, "I hear thou art going to sea in one of my ships to-morrow.' "I am," said he. "And thou comest to say farewell, I suppose," continued she. "I do," answered he. “Well, Thomas, few words suffice for leave-taking," added she, by way of a hint for him to be jogging. |