THE ARETH USA. A NAVAL STORY. BY CAPT. CHAMIER, R. N. AUTHOR OF "BEN BRACE," "LIFE OF A SAILOR," &c. "She is a vessel tight and brave, As ever stemmed the dashing wave, Her men are staunch to their fav'rite launch,- IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET 1837. THE ARETHUSA. CHAPTER I. A spoiled Child. "COME hither, Walter," said Sir Hector Murray, "and listen to the advice of your father. Few years are left me before, according to the course of nature, I shall be swept from the living; and now that the infirmities of age begin to press upon me, I feel that I ought not to reckon upon a much longer continuance here. Listen to me then, and be attentive! it is the duty of youth to regard the monitions of age, and those who scoff at grey hairs may find an early and a disgraceful end. Alas! that the seeds of depravity should have already developed themselves in a boy-a mere VOL. 1. B |