I heard her presence on board discussed several times by others of our company, but it somehow chanced that during my time in the open she was usually below.

Indeed I gained but one glimpse of the lady in the first two weeks at sea, and then only as we were being ordered down to our quarters for the night.

Just as I was approaching the hatch to descend, she appeared from within the cabin, accompanied by the middle-aged planter, and the two advanced toward the rail.

The younger gallant, who was standing there alone, saw them the moment they emerged, and hastened forward, bowing low, hat in hand.

She barely recognized him, her gaze traveling beyond the fellow toward the disappearing line of prisoners.