an iron frame, which could be removed at pleasure. The oaken hull was painted a sea-green color, relieved by a single narrow gold band extending round the vessel, about a foot below the gunwale. Her single dark-varnished mast was of red pine, clear of a single knot, and rose straight as an arrow, and exactly perpendicular, to a great hight, terminating above the "eyes" of the shrouds and the "collar" of the stay in a "crown," five or six feet in length, which curved forward and tapered to a point sustaining a small vane. Although carrying no upper sails, she yet could spread a large mass of canvas, comprising gaff and boom mainsail, square foresail, staysail, jib, and flying-jib. One very extraordinary peculiarity was the fact that all the sails were dyed black, and the spars and blocks were also of that somber hue. On board all was as neat as could possibly be. The low bulwarks were painted blue inside, with a bright crimson stripe down their middle; the deck was holystoned white as snow; every loose rope was carefully coiled down; the nicest order and arrangement prevailed. Just abaft the mast was a large hatchway, covered with a handsome grating, painted white, and aft there was a little poop-deck about seven feet in length, with a companion in front to afford ingress to the cabin. There was a low skylight to this poopdeck, and the long tiller with which the vessel was steered only just cleared it. On the whole, the pretty little jagt was evidently not engaged in the ordinary pursuits of honest gainful commerce, but either was a pleasure-boat, or a craft of a very questionable character. When the pram which received Lars Vonved from the Camperdown, came alongside the jægt, he lightly swung himself on deck, and was received by the skipper, who bowed low and gracefully, exclaiming : "Velbecommen hjem, Capitain Vonved!" (Welcome back!) The seamen on board, and those in the pram, also doffed their caps, and echoed the national expression of welcome-national, at least, as concerns the maritime people-" velbecommen hjem!" in hearty tones. "Mange taks, min vens!" (many thanks, my friends,) was Vonved's answer, and he hastily shook hands with the skipper, and then directed the pram to be swung to the davits at the jægt's stern, and a parting gun to be fired. One of the two small bronze signal guns, fixed on swivels on the pawl-windlass bitts, was promptly fired, and the pram hoisted chock-a-block to the davits, and then turned bottom upwards, and secured in such a position as to be ready for immediately launching again, and yet to lie without obstructing the movements of the tiller, or obscuring the light from the cabin stern windows. Vonved next ordered the helm to be put up, and the jægt to be kept away as near the wind as suited her best point of sailing; his object being to increase her distance from the Camperdown as rapidly as possible. The bonny little jægt was handled by her powerful and experienced crew as easily as a mimic cock-boat is turned and guided by a schoolboy. She bowed over to the freshening breeze that whistled merrily through the rigging, until her lee-gangway dipped in the surging flood, and then she rushed steadily ahead, dashing aside the creamy spray from the crests of the waves which harmlessly broke against her bows, or when an occasionally heavier gust of wind jerked at her tacks and stays, she would shake her head saucily, uplift her bows with a snort and gurgle of the water eddying round her stem, and leap bodily over the advancing waves. Vonved's eyes glistened with keen pleasure as he saw how quickly his jægt would be "hull down" to the bark, and as he stood on the weather quarter gangway, he struck the palm of his right hand smartly on the top of the bulwark, and apostrophizing the vessel as though she were a living creature, ejaculated: "Ah! my own sweet little Amalia! thus dost thou ever serve me in the hour of need! A faithful craft hast thou been, and so thou wilt ever be unto me! Verily, I have need of thee." As though his little Amalia (as the craft was named, after one whom he devotedly loved) were really the sentient being he almost seemed to believe her, she bounded forward more vigorously than ever, sending up the spray from her weather-bow high above the bulwarks in showers that sparkled brilliantly in the sun ere falling far to leeward. The crew of the jægt consisted of four men and a skipper. The men were all The men raised their caps in the ready, courteous manner, common even to the poorest and lowliest seamen of Scandinavia, and promptly answered in the af firmative. "Then, one and all, will bear in mind that the good old captain of that bark is my friend; I owe my life to that ship and her crew; and I order you at all times to aid that captain and ship at the peril of your lives should there ever be occasion, and opportunity serve." middle-aged, grave, steady-looking sea- the deeply attentive crew, who of course men, and when they had made such alter- heard every word of the conversation, ations as were necessary in the disposition" you are old seamen, and would know of the sails, three of them the fourth that bark again by her build and rig having the tiller in hand-clustered to- among a thousand-is it not so ?" gether, and stood with folded arms a little abaft the mast, gazing curiously, yet respectfully, at "Capitain Vonved," as they called him. Near to the latter stood their own " skipper," who merits a more particular description. His age did not exceed two-and-twenty, and he was tall, slim, and decidedly gentlemanly in his appearance and manners. His fair complexion, light-blue eyes, flaxen hair, and the general contour of his features, bore testimony to his Scandinavian lineage. He was a handsome, intelligent-looking young man, and his dress set off his figure to advantage. It consisted of wide blue trowsers of fine cloth, a vest of dark velvet, buttoned closely up to the throat, and a blue cloth surtout confined round the waist with a simple belt of black varnished leather. His neck was bare, the white collar of his shirt being turned down, and tied with a little bow of black ribbon. On his head he wore an ordinary undress navy cap, with the usual anchor-buttons, but the gold band was merely a narrow stripe. This young man, after his first greeting, had only spoken to Lars Vonved in answer to one or two questions the latter put, but stood with an air of The young officer-as he may not imdeference, yet friendly familiarity, await-properly be called-bowed, and beckoning the further pleasure of the redoubted ing to the seaman who acted as steward, Rover of the Baltic. gave him an order. The man dived into the cabin, and quickly reäppeared with the wine; when Vonved said, in a smiling, friendly way: Suddenly Vonved turned towards him, and said: "You little anticipated seeing a signal of mine from yonder bark, Herr Lundt ?" "I did not, Captain Vonved, and at first I rather feared it was an enemy's ruse, but thanks to a good glass, I recognized you, and, therefore had no hesitation in answering the signal and bearing down." "You did well sir, and right glad was I to see the Little Amalia dashing to my rescue." "Rescue! Captain Vonved ?" "So I may phrase it, sir, although I was in no danger so far as the good-will of the captain and crew of the Camperdown was concerned. You would know her again ?" "I should, Captain Vonved." "And you, my Vikings?" addressing "Ja, ja! Capitain Vonved;" gravely responded they, and their looks betokened how much they desired to know in what manner his life had been jeopardized and saved. He perceived this, and with an air in which kindness and authority were singularly blended, he said: "I know your faithful affection for me, my brave men, for you have all been oft tried and never yet found wanting, and at the proper time you shall know what has befallen me since we last parted. Herr Lundt, let the man who acts as your steward serve to them a couple of bottles of your best wine to drink my safe return." "Go forward, my Vikings, and enjoy yourselves; but neglect not to keep a good look-out and report to us when necessary. Herr Lundt, we will now retire to the cabin." The officer again bowed, descended first, and was followed by the extraor dinary man whose will appeared to be law on board. The cabin of the Amalia was, of course, small, and yet it was considerably larger than would have been supposed by one who judged of its size merely by that of the entire hull. It had been skillfully fitted up so as to make the most of the circumscribed space; and as the little jægt was not intended to carry cargo, except of a certain kind which occupied very small bulk, the cabin included all that part of the vessel beneath the poop-deck, and two neat little state rooms were situated forward of it, in what in a large versel would be called the steerage. They communicated with the cabin through doors in the bulkhead of the latter. The cabin itself was nine feet in breadth by seven feet in length. In the center stood an oblong table covered by a snow-white damask cloth, and all round were lockers provided with crimson silk cushions, to serve as seats. The front of these lockers and all the paneling of the cabin was of rich mahogany, polished so brightly that the pier-glass suspended on one side was almost superfluous. The moulding filling up the angle between the paneling and the deck overhead was gilt, and the deck itself (forming the ceiling) was beautifully painted with fanciful and allegorical devices and figures, wreaths of flowers, etc. From the deck was suspended a large antique bronze oil lamb, of peculiar forma tion, having three projecting dragons' heads, the mouths of which each contained a wick for burning. Between the two windows at the stern was a semi-circular zebra-wood locker, the front of which was inlaid with various precious woods in the most elaborate manner, so as to represent the mariner's compass, and in a small shield in the center of this fanciful compass was painted an exact facsimile of the mysterious symbols and motto of Vonved's signet-ring-an eagle flying with a double-edged sword in its beak above a ship in full sail. This locker was ostensibly supported by a species of bracket, a solid piece of Danish oak exquisitely carved in the semblance of the conventional head and flowing beard of old father Neptune. Along the paneling on each side of the cabin were arranged several weapons offensive and defensive. The little cabin was excellently lighted, not only by the two stern windows, but also by the large skylight overhead, which being composed of richly-stained glass, cast a warm and varied light below. A small stove of polished steel, with brass fittings, and a bright copper flue, stood on one side the vessel against the bulkhead, and may be said to complete the chief fittings of the snug and tasteful little cabin, in which a man of ordinary stature could just stand upright. On entering, Vonved sat down at the end of the table in a position which enabled him to command a view of the sea through either of the stern windows, and motioned to Herr Lundt to seat himself opposite, but the latter hesitated, and remarked in a whisper : "Had I not better close the companionway, Captain Vonved, if you wish to converse without risk of being overheard ?” "Yes, do so." Lundt first spoke to the steersman, and bade him keep the course which had been given, and immediately report any sail which hove in sight, or any material change of wind, and then carefully closed the two little folding-doors forming the front of the companion, and drew the slide closely over. "Now for a bottle of your best !" cried Vonved cheerfully. "What wine will you prefer, Captain Vonved ?" "Champagne, let it be, for my heart is light and grateful now that I once more feel myself afloat in my first love-the dainty Little Amalia!" The young man hastened to raise a trap door in the flooring of the cabin, beneath which the runs of the vessel formed a cool and capital wine cellar, and from thence he extracted a couple of bottles of champagne, which, with the proper glasses, he placed on the table. "Would you take any repast also, Captain Vonved? I can give you some fine fresh lax, and some "No, sir, I require nothing at present; and I must apologize," added Vonved, with an air of high and courtly breeding, "for permitting you to act as steward, but I have reason to wish for our interview to be private." "O Captain Vonved!" eagerly cried Lundt, blushing and bowing, "how can you say that? You know that it is a pleasure and a privilege for me!" Lars Vonved gazed half-mournfully and half-affectionately at the flushed ingenuous features of his young officer, and sighing deeply, he slowly echoed : 66 A pleasure and a privilege! And do you esteem it such to be the companion, the familiar friend of an outlaw, a doomed man, one denounced as an arch-miscreant, one upon whose head a heavy price is set by the government of his country ?" "I do!" answered the young man energetically. "You have saved my life you have honored me with your confidence-and I know that he whom men call the Rover of the Baltic is one whose "Hold!" interrupted Vonved, raising his forefinger significantly. "I am only Lars Vonved, Captain Vonved! But as for what you assert-be it so; all I can say is, that I trust that if your friendship and connection with me does not operate to your weal, it may not be to your woe! And now let us drink!" The glasses were brimmed with the cool sparkling vintage of the sunny South, and silently bowing to each other, the two friends quaffed. "Truly, wine gladdens the heart of man, as was said of old," exclaimed the Rover; "and yet I have been refreshed and gladdened more in my time by a stinted draught of water-neither pure nor sparkling-than by any wine I ever drunk." "That would be in the tropics, sir ?” "In the tropics-and elsewhere." "I, also, Captain Vonved. know by fearful experience the value of a draught of water!" Lundt observed, seeing that Vonved was not indisposed to prolong a desultory conversation ere discussing matters of present and weighty interest. "You, Herr Lundt! When and where ?" "Off the coast of Africa." "I was not aware that you had ever sailed on the main ocean ?" "I believe I never mentioned to you before, Captain Vonved, that in my twentieth year, I, for the first and only time, sailed on the Atlantic, and very disastrous the outward voyage proved. To my dying day I shall never forget the sufferings I underwent-for more than the ordinary anguish which befalls a man in many years was condensed, as it were, in the space of a few hours." "The ship was becalmed and short of water?" "Not so, Captain Vonved. The sufferings from thirst to which I alluded were experienced only by myself-a solitary wretch, tossed helplessly about, the sport of every wave." These words caused Vonved to steadily regard his companion with a look of surprise and suddenly aroused interest. "Ah!" said he, very quietly, "I have myself undergone a somewhat similar adventure, although, in my case, a burning tropical sun did not increase my sufferings." 66 Indeed, sir; where was that ?" "Here, in the Baltic; and it occurred only yesterday." Yesterday, Captain Vonved? Impossible !" "Why impossible, Herr Lundt ?" drily demanded the Rover. "The bark which is yet in sight picked me up yester day evening, clinging to a spar, almost at my last gasp, and, as I believe, the solitary survivor of a terrible catastrophe.' The young man started, became deadly pale, and faintly cried: "O Captain Vonved! can it indeed be that the Skildpadde and all her brave crew have perished?" "Not so, my young friend, no calamity has happened to her, I trust. It is the Falk that has perished, and every soul on board, myself excepted." "The Falk! the brig-of-war cruising off Bornholm! And you were on board her?" Vonved calmly nodded. "As a prisoner, Captain Vonved ?" "As a prisoner, sir; what else should I be ?" "Then you were betrayed ?" "I should not otherwise have been captured, as you may well believe," answered Vonved, with a bitter smile. "And who was the traitor-do you know ?" "I do know, Herr Lundt, and fearfully shall he expiate his treachery." As Vonved uttered these words, his usual calm imperturbability instantly disappeared, and his lips quivered, revealing his broad white teeth closely clenched, his features writhed with passion, and his eyes flashed with a fire all the more terrible because so rarely evinced. This emotion, however uncontrollable it might be at the moment, was merely transient in duration, for in a few seconds Vonved's countenance resumed its gentle yet thoughtful expression. Then Vonved, in a low impressive tone, calmly narrated to his astonished companion the story of his betrayal, capture, and ultimate escape. Most if not all our readers have heard this proverb applied, when some one has attempted what was out of his province. But assuredly none of them ever saw it so royally exemplified as it was in the true history I am about to relate, the principal actor in which was no less a personage than Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria, the grandfather of the present king of that country, and one of the most loving, as well as one of the most beloved monarchs, that ever wielded a scepter. On one hot summer day, King Maximilian, clad in very plain habiliments, had gone out alone, (as was his wont,) to walk in the fine park which surrounds his castle of Tegernue, and after a time, drew a volume from his pocket, and seated himself on a bench to read. The sultriness of the air, and the perfect stillness of the place, made his eyes heavy, and laying down his book on the bench beside him, the monarch fell into a doze. His slumber did not last long, however, and on awaking, he rose to continue his walk, but forgot his book, and left it lying on the bench. Wandering onwards, from one division of the extensive park to another, he at length passed beyond its limits, and entered on those grassy downs which stretch down to the margin of the lake. All at once, the king remembered his book, and the possibility that it might be seen and appropriated by some stranger passing by. Unwilling to lose a book he valued, and equally unwilling to retrace the way he had come, while the lake path to the castle lay temptingly before him, the king looked round in every direction, for some one whom he could send for the volume; but the only human being within view was a boy, tending a large flock of geese. The monarch, therefore, went up to him, and said: "Hearken, The same romantic residence to which the still suffering King of Prussia resorted last summer. GOOSE HERD. my lad: dost think thou could'st find for me a book I left lying in such and such a part of the park? thou'lt get two 'zwanzigers* for bringing it to me." The boy, who had never before seen the king, cast a most incredulous look on the corpulent gentleman who made him so astounding a proffer, and then turned away, saying, with an air of comical resentment: "I am not so stupid as you take me for." "Why do you think I consider you stupid ?" asked the monarch. Because you offer me two zwanzigers for so trifling a service; so much money can not be earned so easily," was the sturdy reply. "Now, indeed," said the king, smiling good - humoredly, "I must think thee a simpleton! why do you thus doubt my word ?" "Those up yonder," replied the boy, pointing in the direction of the distant castle, "are ready enough to make sport of the like of us, and ye're one of them, I'm thinking." "And suppose I were" said the king; "but see, here are the two zwanzigers; take them, and fetch me the book." The herd-boy's eyes sparkled as he held actually in his hand a sum of money nearly equal to the hard coin of his summer's herding, and yet he hesitated. "How now," cried the king; "why don't you set off at once?" "I would fain to do it--but I dare not," said the poor fellow; "for if the villagers hear I have left the plaguy geese, they will turn me off, and how shall I earn my bread then ?" "Simpleton!" exclaimed the king, "I will herd the geese till you return.” "You!" said the rustic, with a most contemptuous elongation of the pronoun; you would make a pretty goose-herd; you are much too fat, and much too stiff: *An Austrian coin, value 7d. or 8d. sterling. |