University of Virginia Library

SECTION II.—Pursued.

“Him no hear vat Massa Boomelhyser tell 'bout ven
him come vrom Massa Piet Bogert's dis tay,” said Yonne
aloud, as if to himself, yet in a way to awaken his master's
curiosity, and rolling at the same time his large eyes on
one side, so that he might note the effect of what he spoke
on the dormant faculties of the lazy Hollander, “ony
tink, him hear Snippitee Waldron tell dat him hear Brom
Schenck tell him hear dat Dominie Vermilye's neegur,
Crippiltee Cuff, vat goes clamming, tell him Massa dat—
Loramitee, ony tink, Massa Sporus, how him sleep,”
cried the slave, abruptly breaking the connexion of his
communication at beholding Vanderspeigl gave no heed to
what he said, except by a kind of half snore or snort,
which appeared to intimate that he was more asleep than
awake, “catch him det a cold, sartain—him no hear,
Massa Boomelhyser tink ter ting true—dem debbil birate
back agin wid him ugly face, ony tink Massa,” pursued he,

perceiving Sporus moving and listening, “ony tink now,
him imperance; him ship in ter sound, Cuff see ur big gun
as clebber as him see me—'spose him here vor sum mischief
or noder—las dime him here, him teel Gerard Beekman's
cows—take all him lay him tam hans 'top—der tief.”

It is not a slight thing that will stir a man of equanimity,
and of the placid temperament of the ferry master;
but nevertheless, the tighter the cork be driven in, and
the slower it yields to the screw, the more wind, spirit,
and fire when it once comes from the neck of the flask,
may be expected from the liquor; therefore, he that is
slow to anger, when once aroused, is sure to be more
fierce than one who blazes at every spark, catching like
tinder; so though the bosom of man may seem impervious
to the slightest emotion, yet there are times when some
chord being stirred, we are surprised that the feelings
are so acute and quick, having heretofore beheld nothing
but a strange indifference; but that string when moved
must be a home one—that which winds about the heart
itself. Whether the last was the cause in this case, or
that Vanderspeigl had a mind to circulate his blood,
and give a specimen of his activity, it is difficult to determine,
but he had scarce heard Yonne's intelligence
through, ere, with singular velocity, his eyes started
wide open, and his hand, with equal despatch, snatched
the pipe from his mouth, which naturally from the movement
of the muscles of his face, was left full ajar,—or
what may be more probable, in his haste of action, it being
a minor thing, he had neglected to close it, not (forgetting
however, at the same time, to make a gulp and
swallow down suddenly the smoke which might have remained
in his jaws,) while, with astonishing rapidity, considering
the mould, he raised that inert and ponderous
load, his body, on the support of his legs; indeed, the
whole pantomime was in the true stage style, and would
have called down applause from all judges, who are now-a-days
lamplighters, editors, scene-shifters, and all other
blackguards, hired by managers to force on an audience
lascivious spectacles and bawdy dialogues: it is incumbent,
however, to mention that the facility of enactment
just described, it is probable, might have been inherited

by Sporus from his `grootvader,' who was a stage sweeper
at Saardam, to one Van Worst, a great fat, greasy,
gin-swelled, duck-legged, beastly knave, who kept a
beer byt or bear garden, for the amusement of the rabble.—“Mien
Got!—Got tam,” cried he, speaking quickly
with the peculiar emphasis, that belonged to his gutteral
enunciation, and then pausing a considerable time, as if
fairly to get rid of the ejaculation, he added rapidly, “vat
dis dou dells, der zeerover in der oost vloed—Yonne,
mien bloud ish cold, mien vingers, mien pones dremble—
op myn ziel, tish nien drue, negur, niet waar Ik saai, Ik
hab mien dout,” and having thus delivered himself, he
with all the quietness and calmness possible after so terrible
a squall, comfortably reseated himself, and resumed
his pipe, leaving the amazed black to gaze at him with
the utmost astonishment, for although Yonne had sometimes
beheld the placable Nederlander fly into a vagary
or so, which either came up to or exceeded the cause of
his surprise, and had heard him execute the delivery of
many staring oaths with the like flourishes, yet it was seldom
that these were performed, except when the worthy
burgher's peaceable disposition had been alarmingly
wrought on to the full bearing of his manhood and patience,
or when fairly put out of countenance at being
sadly driven, teazed, and provoked by the never ceasing,
and bitter attacks of his helpmate; but that any thing else
in the world should have, at such a rate, moved or stirred
him up, was not only singular, but alarming,—and direful
misgivings and strange thoughts ran riot through the fertile
brain of the faithful slave. That the announcement of
what had been formerly an every day occurrence, (though
for several months past it had not happened,) that a rover's
barque was lying in the waters of the sound, whose
neighbourhood, however to be dreaded, had heretofore
only been of detriment to the poultry yards and the cattle
of the Nederlanders, the numbers of which always
diminished at these visits of the buccaneer, but which
were amply repaid by the rich trade that was sure to follow
their arrival, among the merchants, pedlars, and
speculators of the island of Manathan—that this could
have awakened the frigid torpidity of Mienheir Vanderspeigl
seemed nearly incredulous, a matter unaccountable,
and indeed Yonne did not know what to make of it, so
having looked sufficiently at the visage of the sturdy
Dutchman, he bethought himself that it would be of no
use whatever to again repeat the correct, straight forward,
and not to be doubted source and channel from whence he
had derived the rumour, for he was well acquainted with
his proprietor's hatred of being contradicted; for when
Vanderspeigl asserted black was white, or any other disputable
position, if his words were not instantly assented
to, he was sure to be as quick, surly, testy, and crabbed,
as a snapping turtle himself, and it was all along that his
wife's manner and customs were in this matter the very
counterpart of his own, that the poor man dragged out
such an intolerable existence, that his temper was ruined,
and his flesh like a jelly on his bones; since, though it
may be a very romantic theory, that when taste and dispositions
assimilate in a married couple, they are the certain
sources of conjugal happiness and contentment, yet
the truth is widely against such interpretation, and Mienheir
Sporus and Vrouw Yokupminshie, proved the latter
in every sense of the word for nothing could be farther
from happiness than as they lived yet on whom the fault
rested will not here be determined; but still it is no more
than just and impartial to say that ya vrouw herself stated
with great feeling, that she was obliged to preach from
morning to night, and yet it was to no purpose, for Sporus,
do what she would, was never satisfied, and so it appears
the poor woman talked herself as lean as a razor in her
dutiful endeavours to make her spouse cheerful, while he,
in spite of her affection, (as she most pathetically affirmed,)
ungrateful dog as he was, continued as dogged,
contrary, and cross-grained, as if he was possessed, which
truly, to the amiable creature was vastly provoking; for
though the obstinate mule of late never ventured to
speak a word in return to her gentle and admonitory
rebukes, yet what worried the kind soul almost to death,
was that he would look at her glum, sour, and ill-natured
as old Nick himself. Now all this had, in a certain degree,
a weight and influential power on the observing, acute,
and close viewing mind of the shrewd negro, and therefore
having gone completely through the subject by conjecture,
and finding without satisfaction, that both in
thought and supposition he was drained to the very
dregs, or in other words, that every idea he could
muster on the occasion relative to the matter which he
strived to develope, was entirely ran out without confirmation,
he thought it of moment to wind up the business
by coming to a conclusion, in which he definitely considered
that at present it was adviseable as his safest plan
to say not a word more on the matter, as it would be of
no use or service for him, if not certainly dangerous and
hazardous, to broach to his master's hearing aught further
that had been spoken by the worthy Mienheir Boomelhyser;
for though the storm of Vanderspeigl's mind
seemed to be entirely blown away, it was wise not to give
it fresh cause to feed on, were there any hunger left: and
of a surety in this, Yonne argued in a sound, cautious,
and discretionate manner, and with reasoning cool and dispassionate,
and it might have been that he drew the foundation
of this logic from his experience entirely, for the
forest and the wild hill and bitter labour had been his only
books, and there are few better, saith a wise old saw;
though it must be confessed their lessons sometimes direfully
puzzled and bewildered his woolly pate, as in one
instance fell out while slooping to Coxsackie, up `de
noordt rivier,' at the time his master hired him to old Cobus
Kuypers, of Waappinger's Kreek, for as he came by
the Shaangum Mountain, there blew up a devil of a squall
which in a moment set the craft on her beam ends, and
in the snap of a finger, swung the spanker boom about
with such velocity, that forgetting all ceremony, it took
the luckless skull of the black in its way, whirling it, together
with the body adjoined, into the water; now,
though this was rather a severe warning, yet it had its
effect, for when in a pitiful plight, by the aid of the leeboard,
he got on deck after his sousing, he bethought
himself that all was owing to his want of civility in not
getting out of the road for his betters; he therefore gathered
wisdom from his misfortune, as rubbing the bruised
seat of wisdom, he exclaimed, “Loramitetee be prase—
ony tink now, me nebber put dis cokernut in de way agin,
sartin—ven me do he velcom to gib nuder slap”—now it
is no more than to be believed, that this remembrance
had its force in the resolution which he had settled for
his conduct, as above amply descanted on; though for all
this, one might incline to think that he had equally in
view the correct, memorable, erudite, and impartial decision
of that sound just, and learned Dutch civilian,
Dirk Von Rikkettie, of Nieuw Amsterdam, who will be
found figuring to no small advantage in one of the latter
books of this remarkable tradition;—but to the case in
point, wherein it appears that skipper Van Wycke, of Sing
Sing, was complainant, and old Mutchin Brinckerhoff, a
ragged, lousy, beggarly, brazen, shirtless, breechless vagabond,
without a character or a coat to his back, stood
defendant; and thus it was,—while the respectable `roeyer's
slupe' lay snugly harboured in der Breede-Gracht,[34]
opposite the beurs,[35] which was on the top of the market
house, right in the very centre of business, for
he had arrived with a valuable cargo of radishes, manure,
and aard apples, and while the skipper, who had
brought for him a great round Yonker's cheese, was comfortably
drinking a zoepje of peach brandy, and smoking a
friendly pipe with his cousin Mienheir Van Kortlandt under
the cover of the great locust tree that stood before
his mill door in der molen weg, or the mill straat as it was
most usually called; that strapping knave, old Mutchin,
who had been watching his opportunity, for the artful dog
was at all times about, poking his nose in places where
he ought not to have been, and where nobody wanted
him, slipt away with an old copper basin, the skipper's
clam knife, and the cover of a high Dutch psalm book,
upon which Van Wycke's name was written by the dominie
in a flourishing Hollandsche text—now Van Wycke
who was a tall, strong, raw-boned, six foot giant of a
Dutchman, with huge staring black whiskers, and great
long lanthorn jaws, set great store by these articles, and
when he found they were gone, he swore horribly, and in
a towering rage he advertised them in the Post Boy, offering
a reward for their recovery of a vier stuyver stuk,
and a skipple of meal, and soon traced them to a hovel in
Rotten Row,[36] the residence of Mienhier Brinckerhoff,
whom he brought by the nape of the neck before the redoubtable
and incorruptible Dirk Von Rikkettie, and in a
blunt, Low Dutchman-like way, informed that sapient
judge of his wrongs. Now Dirk having limped forward
on their entrance, for he was a truly courteous man, and
very condescending withal, though monstrously deep in
law, greeted both parties kindly, inquiring after their
vrauws and little ones, together with their own healths—
and after shaking hands, began with a very profound visage
to maturely weigh the state of the case in his own
mind;—now it should be premised that Dirk mortally
hated the whole race of Van Wyckes for they were of the
old government interest, and he had joined the other side
ever since they were in power—and he also well knew
that old Mutchin was as noisy as he was dirty—and could
lie, toss coppers, and vote in every corner of the stadt at
an election time, when either a Burgomaster or Schepin
was to be chosen—so after fitting and proper time his
mind was made up, and in a clear audible voice he began
to deliver his judgment:—first he set forth with a compliment
to the high standing and well known respectability
of the persons concerned—then he diverged sapiently
in quotations from Puffendorf and Grotius, together with
many other legal authorities, whose writings were appropriate—first
he appeared to lean to one side of the question,
then the other equally balanced it—then he had select
cases from unknown juridical reports—then he stated
what would have been the opinion of Jan Erasmus in the
business—lumbering out and tossing over the whole substance
of the statutes of Nieuw Nederlandts, like a skittish
Flemish mare who switches her long tail about her,
sending the mud on all sides—so that for a long while it
was uncertain how matters stood. At last, after having
kicked up a surprising dust by thus beating around in
every direction, and solemnly taking every bearing of the
compass that was visible, he slowly sought to bring matters
into a narrower compass by ordering the honest
Mynheer Brinckerhoff to be set at large, and advising
him immediately to seek a remedy against the skipper
for false imprisonment—and also with a very stern countenance,
which he however asked Van Wycke's pardon for
putting on, as it was impossible for him to look otherwise
on so serious and dignified an occasion, he proceeded
to admonish the skipper for his carelessness in leaving
temptation in the sight of Brinckerhoff, who had the articles
not been imprudently exposed, would never have
had an idea of taking them; and he (Dirk) therefore
could not but consider it as justice, that might in part
sooth the wounded honour of Mynheer Mutchin (and the
law allowed greater latitude of severity, but he refrained
from the exercise,) if he sentenced Mynheer Van Wycke
to pay all the expenses of the trial. At this the skipper
could not help, in spite of the awe that pervaded him at
the research and talents of the judge, ripping out a huge
swinging oath, and giving his mustachios an undaunted
and defying twist that made all stare again, and was
about to make an appeal—but Dirk, interposing, said he
had not yet finished, for that on account of the complainant
being a resident of another county, he was doubtful
of his jurisdiction in the business, and he therefore supposed
that the affair of the costs would be best referred to a
higher tribunal. And then finding it time to dismiss the
court, he invited the skipper to walk home to his house
and take a drink of brandtwyn with him—at the same
time thanking Van Wycke as they went along, in the
name of the Stadt, for the inflexible activity with which
he prosecuted offenders against the laws.

Now doubtless it is apparent to every mind of reflection,
that this judgment was the best at every point for
the parties themselves and the public good, that the
state of the affair admitted; for had it been determined
otherwise, Mutchin might have been put in the pillory,

and been thrown out of his livelihood, though it was difficult
to say how the fellow lived, yet he made out to get
along some how or other; and losing its head and stay,
his whole family would have been broken up and gone to
the `werkhuis,' and so have been a great expense to the
vroedschap, while on the other hand, the unsuspecting
skipper would, not thinking of the matter, have placed
some new temptation in the way of somebody else, and
there would have been another trial and more time lost,
now all this was foreseen and adroitly avoided by the
inimitable decision of the immortal Dirk: and thus it was
with the sapient Yonne, for as he had not the least desire
that his head should again be where it was in danger of a
rough salute, it struck him thoroughly that he ought not
to put the smallest temptation in the view of his testy and
irritable owner, so without more ado abandoning Vanderspeigl
entirely to his internal cogitations, in one tenth part
of the time which has been taken to relate it, the negro
once again resorted and assiduously applied himself to
the finishing of the labour in which he had been engaged.

Meanwhile the vapours that had hovered darkly upon
the heights, gathered their dusky mantles over the distant
prospect, and the hoar frost hardened as the night
approached near, and as the light grew fainter, the aspect
of the long line of woods that skirted the river was continually
changing; first could be distinctly marked mighty
and majestic groups of trees even to the delicate fibres
that like smooth long grass hung to the rough bark and
twisted boughs, nor were branches of minor growth hid,
the lithe and prickly stems of the wild rasp, the orange
hipp and the percimen whose berries had been the food of
autumnal birds, rustled and bowed their tender heads as
the blast raved by; now like a colossal column some
broad trunked and gnarled oak, whose scathed coat was
whitened by moss that had been growing a hundred years,
could be distinguished, erect in isolated and spectral grandeur,
a leader in the forest, while mingling with its shadow,
like attendants to its glories, the brown fir, the proud
cedar, the noble elm, and the wild mountain ash, cloaked
in their russet garbs, blended their multitudinous arms into

a darksome net work; but in a short time all was mingled
and merged in a sable and undefined mass, whose broken,
scattered heaps, seemed like the black armour of a giant
carelessly strewn amid the surrounding obscurity. The
snow fell faster from its invisible palace in the clouds—its
drifting and feathery flakes, now melting in their flight,
anon resting on the earth white as purity, while the
brown soil of winter grew chequered with its touch; at
intervals broke on the ear, through the melancholy swelling
of the wind, the plashing of some waterfall, that like
the floating mane of a courser in flight, leapt adown the
mountain's rocky side, here concealing itself as it rapidly
trickled amid a cloud, over-hanging swamp wood and dying
brush, that strung with icicles, the frozen drippings of
the wave, glittered dazzlingly even in the night above
the clear transparent waters; here bounding forth over
the smooth worn stones that choaked the ravine, it rushed
into the stream below—the voice of the wilderness,
the appalling and gloomy solitude around, the sublime
and time enduring forms, among which nature alone was
paramount, all seemed scorning the weak invasion of man,
with a comparison of the insignificance and transitoriness
of the arts, enjoyments, and occupations, and of the brief
duration of human existence itself.

And now that ruthless and uncourteous ancient—impartial
time! who tarrieth not for man—be he high or
low—overflowing with riches, or stricken with poverty—
but with the same rapid and unerring stride, passes o'er
the king, priest, or peasant; the lord and slave; the
festal of the victor, and the despair of the vanquished;
on his sure journey moved insensibly, though scarce noted;
while Yonne, though driven hard by desire, for his
soul was of that o'erflowing kind, that it was a task for
him to set bounds to his loquacity—remained silent,
finding no favourable moment wherein he could indulge
himself by a renewal of conversation; at several periods
indeed the words of a new subject were on the very
ends of his lips; and it was with much ado of grievous exertion,
that he restrained their utterance; being alone
forced to stillness, by the awe of his lordly proprietor's

humours: it is to be remarked, however, that Yonne,
although given singularly to earnest discourses, spoke
always to the purpose: and what he said, was preferable
in most instances, to the breathings of many who now
are of the like disposition: for truly, to be ever chattering
like a noisy ape, is a superior qualification; since to
be taciturn in company, is a mark of vulgarity as well as
folly—yet on the other hand, to engross the whole that
is talked, by senseless words and foppish grins, is not
only to be agreeable, but extremely talented and witty:
as such is the conclusion, it is in no wise astonishing,
that every brainless blockhead that is blest with a nimble
tongue, gives it full latitude—troth, 'tis disgusting to
walk abroad and mingle with the crowd, and have one's
ears deafened as it were by the hollow and ceaseless
clapper of a bell: for indeed there are but few circles
that have not their active mouthed idol, their privileged
jester and buffoon, whose mean and impertinent liberties
of speech and contemptible dullness, are received
current for pleasantry and smartness; and who, though
an egregious ass, hath the best of countenance. It is
certainly to be highly regretted, that the judicious reader
should thus have been forced by the untoward disposition
of circumstance, to lose what the sagacious negro
would have spoken: still it is a true proverb that teaches
it is an `ill wind that blows nobody any good;' and so it
was with the black; for what was a deprivation to his
wishes, was a considerable gain to his employment, which
throve mightily in having no rival in his attention: for it
seemed with Yonne as with most people—that the more
fuss they make, the less they do: as is verified in the proceedings
of certain assemblies; where the more they discuss
a matter, the farther they are from bringing it to
perfection: and thus day after day, is wasted in brawling
and childish disputes—foreign to the purpose, as
unsatisfactory to the hearers: so that from remarking
the management of large and mixed bodies, wherein
seldom unity of action or sentiment prevails, it is
not to be wondered, there are many who would prefer
the sway of one ruler, than the corruption, disagreements,
and intrigues of a dozen, who, when they do
agree on making a law, form it so that in case of need,
they may find a corner unguarded which may be turned;
and it is a close observance of this crafty principle, that
hath made so many of our statutes like the mesh of a
spider, which to be entangled in, is certain death to all
smaller winged insects; but for the buzzing bee, the
stinging wasp, the hornet, and other of the greater
species, it is no impediment: for wheresoever it pleases
them, they can with ease tear to rags every thread of
the web. As it may be expected from the premises
above set out, a much briefer space had been gone
through, than otherwise would have been necessary, ere
the boat was, by the dexterous and alert movements of
the slave, in a proper condition to execute its portion
towards the interest of the ferry-master: and soon thereafter,
that the object of his care might be safe from the attacks
of the tempestuous weather already aroused, Yonne
snugly housed the repaired schouw under the shelter of
a neat straw-thatched schouwloots, that adjoined the barn
and dwelling; whose roof served the swallow to hang
his nest to, and where the martin and wren coops were
nailed; all of which from the past summer were silent,
deserted and decaying, making the dreariness of winter
more palpable to the heart, and visible to the mind: and
thus having concluded his toil, and shivering like an aspen
with the cold, to which he was more sensitive than his
hardy master, whose phlegm alone was enough to keep him
warm, the black proceeded with considerable alacrity,
(for the finishing of work, however worn down and fatigued
the labourer may be, is always the quickest,) to collect
together the implements that had assisted his skill, for the
purpose of conveying them with him into the mansion: it
nevertheless must be mentioned, that the speed of this
performance, was interrupted at intervals by the enactor's
being forced by the biting rigour with which his fingers
were affected from the wind, to call in the aid of sundry
stratagems, of rubbing, clapping, and blowing on the
numbed flesh with his breath, to keep his blood in circulation:
it was in the procedure of the latter, at a
moment when a somewhat long exposure had rendered an
extraordinary exertion necessary from the lips—that while
bending his head in this pursuance, the bearing of the negro
was attracted and his notice called from that on which
he was busied, by an afar off sound, which indistinct and
broken by the density of the air and weakened by its being
very distant, at first was scarcely distinguishable, but soon
grew stronger on the ear: Yonne stopped from his occupation,
and raising himself in an attitude of listening, he
strained every nerve to catch the origin of the noise, and
it was not a great while ere from the swiftness of its approach,
that his curiosity was satisfied; for as it became
louder and embodied itself, though from the darkness
and the white showers of falling particles of drift, that in
hosts thickened around, dark above but bright as sea
foam below, he could perceive nothing, yet soon he plainly
marked the dashing of the heavy hoofs of a horse at great
speed on the frozen ground, and whose course was evidently
in the direction of the ferry house. An occurrence
so strange and uncommon was not a little surprising to
the black, who marvelled greatly thereat, since it was
but seldom the custom of traders or others, who adventured
to thrid the lonely, scarce broken paths of the wilderness,
to pursue their solitary travel beyond the fall of
evening, but sometime ere its coming it was prudent as
well as necessary for them to shun danger by seeking
shelter from the hundred deaths that would, armed, spring
up to oppose their way, whilst environed with the gloominess
and shadows of night; and further, it was entirely
out of the question to suppose for an instant that any of
the lusty Dutch colonists had ventured at so late an hour
without the precincts of their own comfortable homesteads;
and indeed both Nederlander and pedlar were too
knowing as well as careful of the wind of their sleek steeds,
to urge them at the rate with which the one that now approached
was spurred—considering these reasons, it is not
to be wondered at that various odd conjectures, surmises,
notions, and flighty ideas, gathered in almost the swiftness
of a moment in Yonne's teeming and fruitful imagination
so that his very brain swarmed again with fearful
visitations, as some how or other, (and there is no accounting
for such things,) they are the maggots of the sense that
thrust their heads out of their holes at every turn; and thus
each dormant fear aroused in his mind, he bethought himself
how it was said that the spirit of old Antony Colve a
fierce, storming, swearing dragoon of a Dutch Governor,
(who had been deprived of his power by an unfortuitous
peace between the United Belgick States and England, in
which the former ceded the colony of Nieuw Nederlandts
to the latter, and had consequently smoked himself to death
out of clear vexation,) was accustomed to ride round and
round the seat of his former government, the proud isle
of Manathan, on a winter's night, mounted on a fiery,
trampling, black war horse, that snorted vengeance on the
invaders of his master's rights; and so, shaking and shivering
through his whole carcass as though stricken by an
ague, scarce able to hide his fright, the timorous negro
turned his eye towards his owner, as if to seek safety and
protection from his countenance, “Mien goot Got! dishish
drange—op myn ziel, tish niet him alrede,” muttered
Vanderspeigl, somewhat perturbed and perplexed, for he
also was started from his reverie by the sound of the galloping.
“Ja! ja! der ding ish twyffelagtig—Mien Got! Ik
peleives tish nien more ash der draveller, ja! der reezer
vor mien schouw to croosh der veer—Got tam! tish zome
Nieuw Englesch loopkramer, some tam bedlar vrom der
stadt ash drades mit tem tam prutes der Indiaan—ja, Ik
hersch der horsche's voet ash blain ash mienzelf—Mien
Got! Ik hab een goed gehoor.”

As this speech took up considerable time, for the Dutchman
paused between every sentence to collect his words
as well as breathe, Yonne had no opportunity to remark
in answer, for now the rider, whatever he might be, was
but a short space distant; the doubtful black, however,
as he hearkened breathlessly to the closer boundings of
the hoofs, could not refrain from whispering to himself,
“Him no like a tradin massa horse, him ride too fas for
dat, sartain—him nuder sort of ting, take my say: den
me see a trange someting last night—me dream all 'bout de
debbil too, ony tink now;” and he shook his head with a
lengthened, rueful, and ominous visage.

On the left of the ferry house, for about a quarter
of a mile, ran a rude and narrow path, or rather
track, winding around several precipitous ledges of
rock and hill, until it gained the open and unfrequented
country; a few yards from the building it
overhung a thick and straggling copse, which sprang up
along the borders of the river below, to the full length of
the footway, while here and there was a small and sudden
opening with a descent to the water cut by the hand of nature
through the tangled thicket; beyond this stretched
out a sandy and pebbly beach, over which, at nigh tide,
the hasty current made its march, and sullenly murmured
against the bank that stopped its farther progress; still in
some places beyond the ascent, lay scanty patches of dry
ground, covered and often defended from the stream
by splinters of the rocks and roots which had crumbled
or been washed down by the rains from the edges of the
earth and crags that projected above. Guided by this difficult
and dangerous way, now trampling recklessly over
the sharp and flinty stones, now plashing in some overflowing
of the current, whose waves tossed up their white
caps, moaning as in anger, like unblest spirits threatening
in their shrouds, with the carelessness of one who well
knew the rugged and broken track, in spite of stock or hindrance
the horseman boldly rode, the clash of his horse's
feet following each other in a thick, close and uninterrupted
succession, so that Yonne's words were scarce breathed
from his lip ere the subject of his forebodings appeared
beneath the brow of a lordly locust tree, which was fast
enveloping itself in a cloak of fleece, for the snow hung
like leaves to its boughs, as it stood like a sentinel at the
head of one of those narrow descending ways. As soon
as the rider perceived the Dutchman and his attendant,
through the dense haze, he hailed them with a loud halloo
of `what cheer ho!' and striking his heels lustily in
the sides of the strong and mettled steed that he was mounted
on, he was borne by the sure footed animal in an instant
to the place where they were.

At the period here written of, many varieties and fantastic
fashions of garb prevailed in the province, probably
owing to the combining circumstances of the time

for then raged in the old world disaffection, troubles and
persecution—in government, religious and personal controversies;
and the eyes of the anarchist, as well as the
felon, the vagabond, and the bankrupted swindler whose
ways of living were overstocked, undone or ruined at
home, turned naturally and wistful of trial, towards a land
so new, so remote, and as yet scarce operated on—so
that numbers of wretches, vile and base, flying from merited
punishment, and inflamed with wondrous hardihood
and the spirit of adventure, sought in the new world fresh
fields for daring and the exercise of their talents; and from
the accession of these emigrants the inhabitants generally,
for the bad will soon contaminate the good, were
composed of a motley medley of rogues and knaves: and
as it is wisely though homely remarked, that what is bred
in the bone will follow the flesh—so it hath proved that
though the community in modern days may be better than
it hath been, it hath only improved in ingenuity in committing
many more atrocities with impunity—for indeed
such numbers of bad men, the outcast scum, the loathsome
purgings of European enormities, have ever since
been flowing in upon us, that every shadow of virtue that
might have once been, hath totally disappeared: and as
it is the interest of those who are ill of heart, to put honesty
and honour out of countenance and favour—they
have, by the repeated attacks, overcome all who were
hardy enough to oppose, and made at last every thing so
subservient to their wills, that for characters who bear in
conduct affinity to them, there is not a country on the
bosom of creation more favourable—hence there is no
marvel that daily and hourly their host is augmented with
recruits from the oldest adepts in villany—so that our whole
community is reduced to one common mass of worn out
pimps, sharpers, gamblers, and broken spendthrifts. As is
natural, the innovation of strangers brought with it, as well
as fresh crimes, new manners and customs; which as novelty,
however absurd, is most greedily followed, were soon
either grafted on or entirely superseded the old; and to
this day the vulgar rage of imitation hath flourished to
the ruin of many of its worshippers. Rich and poor, high
and low, are crazed with the folly of dress;—no matter
how it befits their situations in society—whether it strains
their slender means—or is ridiculous from their contemptible
birth and education:—here the wife of a hod carrier
is beprankt in loads of lace and finery that hath eaten
up in the purchase all that her labouring husband hath
been able to obtain for months by the severest industry—
and probably whilst she is showing out her awkward airs
and decorations, her offspring are lacking sustenance in
some damp and filthy cellar or garret:—there the daughters
of some cheating usurious skinflint, who hath piled
up his fortune by the lowest means, and who, uplifted
above the condition to which he was born, the stable,
the cow yard, or the bake-house, hath suddenly swelled
into consequence—ape the splendour and the ways of
their betters; and unmindful of their origin and forgetful of
the times when the plainest garb was a rarity, they launch
forth into extravagance:—one broad shouldered, coarse
bouncing wench, who was certainly intended by nature for
a scrub, hath her waist drawn to the compass of an hour-glass,
and her robe so loaded with trimmings, that strong
as she appears she hath much ado to carry it—another,
rouged to the very eyes, brawny as a scullion, hath her
covering so light and delicate that the wind almost carries
it away:—this lady cannot stir abroad but she must have
her glasses on, to show the world how learned and studious
she is—but it is only abroad she wears them:—and
lastly, the more strange that lady dresses, if it be but
costly and differing from common people, the more she
believes herself admired: and what to day excites the
laughter of all, to-morrow is sought after with avidity—
and the greater price set on the thing, however mean its
intrinsic worth, the more valuable in the eyes of the
world. Indeed with us it is only considered that high,
luxurious, and magnificent living, together with fine and
costly clothes—no matter whether they are in character
or not—whether afforded within the means of the wearer
or ever paid for—are wanted to make the lady or the
gentleman.

But the stranger must not be forgot, the singularity of

whose attire from these remarks will not surprise the
reader. He was a slight built man, though formed with
that knit of shape and texture of limb that at once bespoke
uncommon strength and activity. He was about
the middle age of life; though a naturally sallow, swarthy
and somewhat livid cast of complexion, which had evidently
attained its height from the dusky tinges of a
southern sun—such as his whole appearance told he had
lately been toiling under—together with the half grey
hairs that scantily mixed in his long, black and untrimmed
locks—might possibly to the eye have added several
years: yet his every look was of that wild and desperate
nature, and there was about him so much of the quick
glance and dauntless daring of one who cared or feared
not, that the mind was forcibly stricken that he was a
man rather to be shunned than encountered. In his apparel
there was but little that could elucidate that course
of life the wearer followed, for it was a strange mixture
of mendicant garment, applicable to the sea and land;
still it was not difficult to perceive that whatever might
be his calling, that of arms formed a part. His jerkin
was of Spanish cloth, whose delicate woof, intended for a
milder clime, could have guarded the rider but ill from
the stingings of the piercing blast—but this he recked
not;—loose trunk hosen, such as were in use by the mariners
of the era, slashed with silk, were gathered with
party hued ribbons at the knee—though all was much
rent, faded and discoloured, as by long and constant wear,
such as would be from the straits and passes of one who
voyaged the ocean, and had assumed some portions of
his attire from the strange places he had visited: a large
belt or bandeliere thrown over the right shoulder hung
down under his left arm, and sustained an arquebuss or
hand gun, which was carefully shielded from the wet and
night, by being wrapt in a folding of a huge sea cloak
that fell negligently from the neck, floating down on one
side of the horseman, and as it was thrown back
by the wind, disclosed in his baldric the glittering barrels
of a pair of pistolets and the naked blade of a hanger—
while a stout leathern cap, or rather a sombrero, ribbed
with curves of iron, such as was worn by those on board
of armed vessels who were selected for boarding, completed
his equipments.

“Ho, how goes it old broad stern,” said the stranger
as flinging himself to the ground, which rang with his
heavy tread, he rudely greeted the ferry master: while
the ample and gallant chest of the brave animal that had
borne him dripped with foam, which the speed that he had
been driven covered him with; “how has the wind set in
your canvass since last we swung in a hammock together?
Santissima Trinidada! I'll wager a pistole to a marvede
you've smoked more tobacco and swigged as many cans
of bomboo,[37] as would freight a barqua longa—by the
gold of Deldorado, old dolphin! you've here quietly turned
in, whilst in storm and sun we've swept the broad Pacific
from Panama to the stormy Cape. Hey topirassou,[38]
how goes times ashore?”

There are but few more truly awkward and disagreeable
situations, trying to one's self-possession and temper,
as when pursuing our way in a great hurry, on turning
a corner our sight is met suddenly, and our further
progress interrupted by running full tilt against
some teazing, dunning, beggarly, dirty looking fellow,
who has the impudence to claim an acquaintance, and
from whose disgraceful companionship and button holding
familiarities and importunity there is no escaping.
Feelings not entirely different from one in that sad predicament
appeared at the view and salute of the horseman
to actuate the motions of Vanderspeigl, for first with a

sheepish gaze he looked up, then down—then on one side
and then on another, as though anxious to shun the stranger's
eye; who perceiving the Nederlander's embarrassment,
and irritated at receiving no answer to his address
after a short interval abruptly continued in a rough voice.
“Curse me, but you look as thof you'd fell afoul o' the
flying Dutchman rather than an old messmate—you 'ant
lost your reckoning, swipes;—diabolo! but you land lubbers
are always stupid, like the albatross—but little can be
got out of you, for as it is said, `Quen no ha vista Sevilla,
no ha vista maravilla,'[39] so short yarn, out with your grapples
and lash to.”

Having become sensible to the backwardness of his
conduct, Sporus sought to obtain a transient mastery
over his actions, and while the cross and sour aspect of
his visage in spite of himself belied his words of welcome,
he thrust out with no cordial haste his huge hand.
“Mien goot Got!” said he in a tone of affected surprise
and recognition, “van vaar koomen u!—blesh mien ziel
tish Eumet ash ik livsch!—hartig un wel!—mien Got!
dou beest velcome aan strand, mien oude kennis op myn
ziel dat dou ish.”

“Nuestra Senora,” returned Eumet coldly, “but your
hail drops like partridge shot in a high sea—troth, thy
cutwater looks as long as Cogi Babba's[40] when we laid the
Kerry merchantman aboard, yard arm and yard arm—and
none of your damned yawing, old dog. Carra, but I'll give
you news that 'll make you float that broad keel of thine
as briskly as ever it did in the spiel houses of der hueren
wegh[41] —avast, lubber, thou look'st like a swab ducked
from the mast head—dost not see a free hearted
rover?”

“Mien Got! ish der galey—der adventur schip aan-komen
dat ish arrived,” quoth the Hollander, drawing

his words from the deepest corner of his mouth, yet finding
it impossible to disguise the clouds that were on his
countenance, from the keen, hasty, and piercing glances
of the buccaneer, for such the stranger was, though endeavouring
to assume an ease that scarce became him,
“ik ben er blydeom—dat ish zo bleased zo mush ash ish
von pird in der zonnes shyn—ja! dat ish in der zomer
dime—ja! tish drue! op myn zeil!”

“A fé, Senor, stiff shrouds—you manœuvre queerly
thof to show it,” answered the rover gruffly—“damn it,
but you hang aloft as sorry a sail as did long Ben, when
he hoisted hempen ruff at Execution Dock. Mi amigo!
you'd not let the scuppers run had we all messed below
with the bellena—mass! we're all jolly and alive my
hearty! top and top-gallant! riding yonder above the
hellgat.”

“Goot Got!” groaned Vanderspeigl in sore despair,
scarcely able to contain his muttering “den ik ish in der
verdamnt biece ob business—ja! ik hash der geluck, dat
ish der duivelsh—ja! en dat ish hish eigen: Got tam!
ik mill hab mien zeil droubled vrom mien leeven!—ja!
vrom mien podies.”

“Troth, I bear ahead too fast,” continued Eumet,
without noticing Sporus' agitated murmurings, “I must
about ship—for we should count no loss bate gunner
Moore and the hermosa barco herself—a line fifty fathoms
would not sound them. Virgen Santissima, as they
say on the main; but Tom was un noble espiritu, as ever
handled a pike under red bunting—but el y el capitan
could not pull the same cable; so d'ye see the old man
scuttled him, knocked his brains out with the strap
bucket off the coast of Malabar.[42] Mass! there was not a
boy aboard that thought the lousy dog had brains, till we
saw them strew the deck; thof there was not enough
blood to float a straw[43] so now his podredo esqueleto
swings in a wet hammock without parson's fees—while
the Adventure, poor soul, wanted copper, for her body
was rotten; so we rigged the Quedagh, our gallant prize,

and jilted the thing, leaving her with a lighted match to
seek her own harbour—so give her your tears picaron,
for she was as sweet a creature as ever ploughed salt
wave or bore live oak—then as to her crew, d'ye hear,
el valor nuestros marinos maketh a free ocean, and you
know at a chance there are mangrove bushes and un hermosa
puerto at Tobago.”[44]

Ever since the mariner's arrival the darkness had been
increasing, and now the whole face of the heavens had become
of one black hue, like a mighty funeral pall—the wet
sleet drove violently and swiftly about at every breathing
of the wind—strong and irregular blasts of which, loaded
with the drift, at times swept wildly and madly along, involving
every thing around in obscurity. The freebooter
wrapt him in his broad cloak, and sought to conceal himself
within its ample folds from the anger of the storm;
while the hardy Dutchman also began to feel concern
from the increased severity of the atmosphere; for actively
rubbing his hands together, he thrust them in the
comfortable warmth of his wide breeches pocket, whose
mouths yawned to receive them like the jaws of some
monstrous abyss;—and then drawing with all his might
two or three hearty puffs from his pipe, as if thereby to
obtain confidence, he resumed the conversation. “Sapperment!
mien guter vreind,” said he, “tish verdamnt
cold—hol mich der duivel, ik ish ys—ash von kanelboom
mit itsh dykes—ja! ik ish ash der Y—dat ish vrozen.
Mien Got! tish ash vone zo cold nagt in December dat
you shall zee—op myn zeil dis blace ish ash der Lablandsh!—Got
tam!”

“Mass! perro—thou sayst true,” replied the buccaneer,
“the wind hath a mind to cut up all my rigging,
the cold hath nearly wrecked me—carra! have you no
aqua vita, or aught to warm one's hull.”

“Mien Got!” returned the other, “ik hash niet—
mien ver guter vreind, der vroew hash der zilver water, and
der goold water, an der genever, an der Hollandts, altig in

der potbank—ja! in der glozet—an der vrouw likesh it
met een slotgesloten zyn—dat ish she sall keep der keysh
mit der locksh zo ash any oder womansh.—Sapperment,”
added he, anxious to change the discourse to which he
had been betrayed, for though he was willing to refresh his
own clay, he did not relish giving a drop of comfort to his
unwelcome visitor; so he collected his courage, desirous
to know at once the worst—“vat in der vorld Eumet
mensch, makes dou come dis dime a nagt zo as dien
paard sall break his neck, mit der gelop—ja! dat is hish
spoed.”

“Humph!” ejaculated the rover drily, at the same
time casting an expressive glance on Yonne, who ever
since the pirate's first arrival had remained in one unaltered
attitude of fixed attention and wonder at every word that
passed, with eyes distended till they looked like teacups,
and glistening with the anxious curiosity that pervaded
his whole frame, while his ears drank in every sound that
escaped the lips of the speakers.

“Mien goot Got! vat u means by humph?” exclaimed
the ferry master crabbedly, and not understanding the
caution, “in mien minds tish besser as dat u sbeaks blain
zo ash dat bersons sall verstand de zaak, vat u wants,
Got tam!”

“Santa terra! hold water my little Dutch mud turtle,”
rejoined the mariner, “that which I have is for your ear.
El que obra sabiamente merece el abanza, as the Spaniards
say—yonder gull hath piped his hands all adeck—
white owl there hath his hatches loose for a cargo—cut
your cables ebony—tack ship without freight and take
your course to another harbour, for damn you if your
black canvass is not quickly spread, I'll beat that calabash
of thine as flat as the deck of a Moorish ketch—luff
you dog—steer clear of my musquetoon.”

“No cassin 'tall, massa—no cassin massa sartain!” cried
the terrified negro, springing back at least a yard to avoid
the marauder as he advanced on him, “Loramittee—ony
tink—now be clebber—vy you angry so? der debbil!
take care him gun—me go fas as nuder man—dere dont
crumple, me gone—me gone, massa—ony tink now.”

Yonne, however, having obtained what appeared a
sufficient distance for present safety, heedless of his assurance
of instant departure, stirred not farther, but seemed
rather inclined to return to the spot whereon he stood
ere his retreat—for in spite of the savage visage of the
sea robber, and although he fearfully stole a glance at
the arquebuss, which his obstinacy rendered so likely to
descend upon his head in anger—he still hesitated not,
urged by uncontrollable curiosity, to linger, for as yet he
had not comprehended the character of the pirate; and
a desire to know what a person of such strange dress and
language could have to say privately to his owner, awakened
every dormant faculty within him. Besides, in the
dumb companion of the stranger he recognised an old acquaintance,
for whose being in such servitude and condition
he could no wise account—all this combined gave him an
uncommon share of stubborn courage; and depending on
his usual alertness in case of want, should the threatened
menace be attempted to be put in execution, he bravely
dared the consequence of his remaining. It is true, that
bravery is a faculty easily assumed, and mostly displayed
while distant from danger; and the credit of its possession
is often granted to some noisy sputterer, the haunter of
taverns and the bully of bawds, who, swelling with conceit,
and mighty in some nominal distinction which he hath himself
taken without cause, and which courtesy merely allows
him, or that he may have by chance obtained by hard service
as a veteran, by marching and countermarching a
ragged train of levies through lane and street under a destructive
and heavy fire from that enemy of citizen soldiers,
a raging sun; (whose power affords him an opportunity
of boasting of the severity of his discipline, though
in reality he may have a mortal antipathy `to that villanous
saltpetre that is dug from out the bowels of the
earth;' and loveth no kind of smoke except the smoke
of his segar; for that bears resemblance to his own bravery—being
a great deal of smoke to a little fire, and
is alone kept alive by repeated puffings;)—yet fear, the
very reverse of courage, hath oftentimes called it forth:
many cowards, driven to desperation, have acted like

brave men—dastards in their whole lives, have, when
thrust forth by fear, proved victors in deadly combats.
It is likely from these known and certain principles, and
perhaps urged by the hope of becoming heroes from
some lucky accident, that there are among us so many
bitten with the mania of being chieftains without scarcely
knowing the lock from the bore of a fusee—though doubtless
it is neither necessary for a general to have either
brains or boldness; for in truth he from whom I draw my
example and supposition, hath neither; as indeed the only
mystery he may comprehend is the making of his own
beaver, which from so competent a judge, ought to be of
the best; however, it is equally certain that the composition
of that which the beaver covers, is too much mixed
with the commonest wool to give its wearer any assistance
at a critical moment:—nevertheless, the rashness of the
prying negro was not derived from any of the causes just
detailed, but solely from that which it was first explained
had actuated him—unconquerable curiosity.

“Curse him tam imperance—him tirty manners—ony
tink der feller treat a body so cantagues,” in spite of prudence
burst from the lips of the provoked Yonne at the
uncivil attack of the freebooter, “him no wort mush, me
see dat clebber 'nough—good as him any day, me like—
him look like a tief sartain, wid all him talk,” and then
turning up a nose whose nostrils naturally covered one
half of his wide face, he gazed at his persecutor with one
of those contemptuous glances that denoted his sense of
the unmannerly breeding of his enemy, and an amazing
confidence in his own superiority of gentility and education.
However Yonne's continued loitering succeeded
in irritating one of whom he stood in greater awe—for
Vanderspeigl being probably likewise unwilling that a
third person, and particularly one of so communicative a
nature as the black, should be a partaker of the freebooters
words, at last exerted his authority.

“Yonne—God tam!” he thundered out, “zo dou is not
gone mit dien tam gibble gabble—op myn zeil, ik sall
preak dien kop, negur, dat is dien head, dou blaffing
hond.”

There was wanted no repetition of this threat, for the
negro spoke aloud not a word more, but quick as the
darting of a rat in his hiding place when suddenly surprised
at his midnight revelling and depredation—Yonne
shrunk precipitately in the door way and in a moment
disappeared.