"Miss Jenny," said he, "we shall probably be chased by that corvette you see to windward, and as she will speak to us with shot, I beg to offer you my arm to take you to your cabin again."
"Thank you, very much, Mr. Playfair," replied the young girl, looking at him, "but I am not afraid of cannon-shots."
"However, miss, in spite of the distance, there may be some danger."
"Oh, I was not brought up to be fearful; they accustom us to everything in America, and I assure you that the shot from the 'Iroquois' will not make me lower my head."
"You are brave, Miss Jenny."
"Let us admit, then, that I am brave, and allow me to stay by you."
"I can refuse you nothing, Miss Halliburtt," replied the Captain, looking at the young girl's calm face.
These words were hardly uttered when they saw a line of white smoke issue from the bulwarks of the corvette; before the report had reached the "Dolphin" a projectile whizzed through the air in the direction of the steamer.
At about twenty fathoms from the "Dolphin" the shot, the speed of which had sensibly lessened, skimmed over the surface of the waves, marking its passage by a
