WE AND THE WORLD. 21 1

" He's a wag, that old fellow, too. Come along, little
Jack ! You're mighty shaky on your feet, considering
the festivities that we're bound for. Step it out, my boy,
or 111 have to carry ye."

" Are you coming to the foc'sle ? " said I, being well
aware that this was equivalent to a drawing-room visitor
taking tea in the kitchen. "You know it's where the
conmion sailors, and Alister and I have our meals ? " I
added, for his private ear.
" Thank ye for the hint. I know it's where I hope to
meet the men that offered their lives for mine."

"That's true, Dennis, I know; but don't be cross.
Theyll be awfully plea^sed to see you."

"And not without reason, I can tell ye! Didn't I
beard the lion in his den, the Captain in his cabin, to beg

for the grog ? And talking of beards, of all the fiery ,

upon my soul he's not safe to be near gunpowder. Jack,
is he Scotch ? "

" Yes."

" They're bad to blarney, and I did my best, I can tell
you, for my own sal$e as well as for the men. I'm as shy
with strangers as an owl by daylight, and I'll never get a
thank ye out of my throat, unless we've the chance of a
bit of sociability. However, at last he called to that nice
fellow — third mate, isn't he ? — and gave orders for the rum.
