gins to talk of his wife and family, I consider his designs on my purse and time to be quite desperate. Descendants of the sea-kings! I am sure I shall not drown; and if you do, I promise to increase your donation, till your widows may erect a church and belfry to ring a rejoicing peal over your memory; and thus I end the dispute."
So saying, the young Englishman rose from the deck, where. he had lain wrapped in his cloak and his thoughts—and putting the sullen steersman aside, took the helm into his own hands. A few moments saw the little vessel gallantly scudding through the waters, dashing before her a shower of foam like sudden snow—and leaving behind a silver track, like a shining serpent, called by some strange spell from its emerald palace, and yet bright with the mysterious light of its birthplace. The river, now like an allied army, swollen with the gathered rains of many weeks, was darkened on one side by an ancient forest, black as night and death, and seeming almost as eternal. It was swept, but not bowed, by a mighty wind, now loud as mountain thunder, and now low with that peculiar whisper which haunts the leaf of the pine—such as might have
