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A line of battle ship, three frigates, and a number of merchantmen at anchor men of war lovely craft, bands playing a good deal of the pomp and circumstance of war. Next forenoon, Mr Treenail, the second lieutenant, sent for me. "Mr Cringle," said he, "you have an uncle in Cork, I believe?" I said I had.
Close to the head, there was a small door opening into an apartment of some kind, but the coffin was placed so near it, that one could not pass between the body and the door. "My good man," said Treenail, to the solitary mourner, "I must beg leave to remove the body a bit, and have the goodness to open that door." "Door, yere honour!
We had fallen in with a pilot canoe of Morant Bay with four negroes on board, who requested us to hoist in their boat, and take them all on board, as the pilot schooner to which they belonged had that morning bore up for Kingston, and left instructions to them to follow her in the first vessel appearing afterwards. We did so, and now, as it was getting dark, the captain came up to Mr. Treenail.
"Beg pardon," said Mr Treenail, "pray, is this Mr -'s house?" "Yes, sir, it is." "Will you have the goodness to say if he be at home?" "Oh yes, sir, he is dere upon dinner wid company," said the lady. "Well," continued the lieutenant, "say to him, that an officer of his Majesty's sloop Torch is below, with despatches for the admiral."
"True enough, Treenail; so the sooner we make a dash through the opening the better." "Agreed." By some impulse peculiar to British sailors, the men were just about cheering, when their commanding officer's voice controlled them. "Hark, my brave fellows, silence, as you value your lives."
More seamen entered, led by Captain Treenail, and others followed, till we were all inside; and torches being lit, the cavern was thoroughly examined. Not a human being was discovered, but the cave contained a far larger amount of bales of silks, and ribbons, and tobacco, and kegs of spirits, than we had supposed.
Still no one answered. I pushed against the door, and found it was open, and Mr. Treenail and myself immediately ascended a flight of six marble steps, and stood in the lower piazza, with the hall, or vestibule, before us. We entered. A very well-dressed brown woman, who was sitting at her work at a small table, along with two young girls of the same complexion, instantly rose to receive us.
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