Such  thoughts  of  remorse  were  now  rolling  in  his
mind,  and  he  may  be  forgiven,  if  recollections  of
Minna  mingled  with  and  aided  them.  He  looked
around,  too,  on  his  mates,  and,  profligate  and  hard-
ened as  he  knew  them  to  be,  he  could  not  think  of
their  paying  the  penalty  of  his  obstinacy.  "  We
shall  be  ready  to  sail  with  the  ebb  tide,"  he  said  to
himself  —  "  why  should  I  endanger  these  men,  by
detaining  them  till  the  hour  of  danger,  predicted  by
that  singular  woman,  shall  arrive  ?  Her  intelligence,
howsoever  acquired,  has  been  always  strangely  ac-
curate ;  and  her  warning  was  as  solemn  as  if  a
mother  were  to  apprize  an  erring  son  of  his  crimes,
and  of  his  approaching  punishment.  Besides,  what
3hance  is  there  that  I  can  again  see  Minna  ?  She
is  at  Kirkwall,  doubtless,  and  to  hold  my  course
thither  would  be  to  steer  right  upon  the  rocks.  No,
I  will  not  endanger  these  poor  fellows  —  I  will  sail
with  the  ebb  tide.  On  the  desolate  Hebrides,  or
on  the  north-west  coast  of  Ireland,  I  will  leave  the
vessel,  and  return  hither  in  some  disguise  —  yet.
THE  PIRATE.  285

wjiy  should  I  return,  since  it  will  perhaps  be  only
to  see  Minna  the  bride  of  Mordaunt  ?  No  —  let
the  vessel  sail  with  this  ebb  tide  without  me.  I
will  abide  and  take  my  fate."

His  meditations  were  here  interrupted  by  Jack
Bunce,  who,  hailing  him  noble  Captain,  said  they
were  ready  to  sail  when  he  pleased.
"  When  you  please,  Bunce ;  for  I  shall  leave  the
command  with  you,  and  go  ashore  at  Stromness,"
said  Cleveland.
