University of Virginia Library

CONCLUSION.

The intelligence that Duncan conveyed to his parents and Isabel
that his brother lived filled them with deep joy. He now resolved
to take measures at once to discover him. This his fraternal love
would have led him to do; but it was necessary for his own honor.
It is true he had been pardoned by the Executive; but pardon necessarily
implies guilt; and in this respect his position was only
on a level with any pardoned criminal who had been really guilty
of a murder. It was true that his friends believed him innocent
but there were many who also believed him to be guilty. It was
therefore necessary, aside from all the inducements of affection, for
him to produce his brother.

For this purpose he proceeded to New York and took passage for
the Mediteranean, with letters from the Secretary of the navy to
Commodore Barron, of the squadron in those seas, recommending
him to him, and desiring him to afford him every facility in the
prosecution of his search. On reaching the Mediterranean, Duncan
found the President's frigate was at Syracuse, where he joined
her. Six months had now elapsed since the fleet had sailed from

the Roads. Commodore Barron made every inquiry in his power;
but it was some weeks before Duncan could gain intelligence from
all the vessels of war, ss they were dispersed on different stations.
From neither of the frigates could he hear of any one coming on
board in the Roads. At length Commodore Barron received a letter
from Lieutenant Sterret of the Enterprise, in reply to one he
had written, in which he stated that such a person had come off to
the brig in the Roads, and that he was four months ago taken prisoner
in a brush on shore, with the crew of a Tripolitan polacca.

It would take another volume to recount the various adventures
through which Duncan passed in search of Howard, and the scenes
through which the latter passed during his captivity. After four
years' search Duncan discovered him the leader of party of Moorish
cavalry, who came as an ally of General Eaton in his romantic
attack upon Derne, which expedition Duncan had joined with the
hope of entering Tripoli with it.

The brothers met side by side in scaling the fortress of the town.
Howard in his mustache and Moorish costume, was unrecognised
by Duncan, whom he instantly recognised, and called him by name.
Duncan suspended a blow in the air, he was about to deal upon
the turban of a Tripolitan, gazed an instant into his brother's eyes,
caught his smile, and with a glad cry cast himself into his arms.

The two brothers returned to the United States together, but
Howard was accompanied by his bride, a beautiful Greek girl,
whom he had recaptured from a slave caravan, and whose bright
eyes and thousand charms made him forget Isabel. The innocence
of Duncan was now like the sunlight, and all men sought to atone
for their suspicions by paying him marked public honors. His
marriage with Isabel was celebrated with great magnificence, and
during the evening Howard and his dark-eyed bride performed a
graceful Greek dance. Thus happiness, peace and honor were
once more restored to bosoms so lately darkened by grief and suspicions
of guilt; and Duncan, from having known misfortune, had
learned how to receive and enjoy the calm delights of prosperity.

Let the reader, from the facts here recorded, long pause before
he condemns another from the evidence of circumstances, however
strong and convincing they may appear in his own eyes and
those of the world.