Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/39

OR, VULCAN S PEAK. 33 of vyhat was to occur before their eyes were to be again gladdened with the sight of their respective forms. Mark found in his state-room for, in the Rancocus, the cabin was fitted with four neat little state-rooms, one for the captain, and two for the mates, with a fourth for the supercargo many proofs of Bridget s love and care. Mrs. Crutchely, herself, though so much longer experienced, had scarcely looked after the captain s comfort with more judgment, and certainly not with greater solicitude, than this youthful bride had expended on her bridegroom s room. In that day, artists were not very numerous in America, nor is it very probable that Doctor Yardley would have permitted his daughter to take so decided a step as to sit for her miniature for Mark s possession ; but she had managed to get her profile cut, and to have it framed, and the mate discovered it placed carefully among his effects, when only a week out. From this profile Mark derived the greatest consolation. It was a good one, and Bridget happened to have a face that would tell in that sort of thing, so that the husband had no difficulty in recognising the wife, in this little image. There it was, with the very pretty slight turn of the head to one side, that in Bridget was both natural and graceful. Mark spent hours in gazing at and in admiring this inanimate shadow of his bride, which never foiled to recall to him all her grace, and na ture, and tenderness and love, though it could not convey any direct expression of her animation and spirit. It is said ships have no Sundays. The meaning of this is merely that a vessel must perform her work, week-days and sabbaths, day and night, in fair or foul. The Ranco cus formed no exception to the rule, and on she travelled, having a road before her that it would require months ere the end of it could be found. It is not our intention to dwell on the details of this long voyage, for two reasons, One is the fact that most voyages to the southern extremity of the American continent are marked by the same inci dents ; and the other is, that we have much other matter to relate, that must be given with great attention to mi nutiae, and which we think will have much more interest with the reader. Captain Crutchely touched at Rio for supplies, as is