The Complete Works Volume 19; Zanoni (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842 Excerpt: ...the ship mine; I ruled merrily enough for six months. We then attacked a French ship twice our size; what sport it was And we had not had a good fight so long, we were quite like virgins at it We got the best of it, and won ship and cargo. They wanted to pistol the captain, but that was against my laws; so we gagged him, for he scolded as loud as if we were married to him; left him and the rest of his crew on board our own vessel, which was terribly battered; clapped our black flag on the Frenchman's, ' and set ofi' merrily, with a brisk wind in our fa-vour. But luck deserted us on forsaking our own dear old ship. A storm came on, a plank struck; several of us escaped in the boat; we had lots of gold with us, but no water For two days and two nights we suffered horribly; but at last we ran ashore near a French seaport. Our sorry plight moved compassion, and as we had money we were not suspected--people only suspect the poor. Here we soon recovered our fatigues, rigged ourselves out gaily, and your humble servant was considered as noble-a captain as ever walked deck. But now, alas, my fate would have it that I should fall in love with a silkmercer's daughter. Ah, how I loved her --the pretty Clara Yes, I loved her so well, that I was seized with horror at my past life I resolved to repent, to marry her, and settle down into an honest man. Accordingly, I summoned my messmates, told them my resolution, resigned my command, and persuaded them to depart. They were good fellows; engaged with a Dutchman, against whom I heard afterwards they made a successful mutiny, but I never saw them more. I had two thousand crowns still left; with this sum I obtained the consent of the silkmercer, and it was agreed that I should become a partner in the f...