kind of me hitching him with a boat-hook, that we got on together

wonderful, and he called me 'Friar Sharley,' and he tried to take up

with our manners and customs; but his head was outlandish for English

grog. One night he was three sheets in the wind, at a snug little crib

by the river, and he took to the brag as is born with them. 'All dis

contray in one year now,' says he, nodding over his glass at me, 'shall

be of the grand nashong, and I will make a great man of you, Friar

Sharley. Do you know what prawns are, my good friend?' Well, I said I

had caught a good many in my time; but he laughed and said, 'Prawns will

catch you this time. One tousand prawns, all with two hondred men inside

him, and the leetle prawns will come to land at your house, Sharley.

Bootiful place, quiet sea, no bad rocks. You look out in the morning,

and the white coast is made black with them.' Now what do you say to

that, Cappen Tugwell?"

"I've a-heered that style of talk many times afore," Master Tugwell

answered, solidly; "and all I can say is that I should have punched his

head. And you deserve the same thing, Charley Bowles, unless you've got

more than that to tell us."

"So I might, Cappen, and I won't deny you there. But the discourse were

consarning Squire Carne now just, and the troubles he fell into, before

I was come to my judgment yet. Why, an uncle of mine served footman

there--Jeremiah Bowles, known to every one, until he was no more heard

of."

Nods of assent to the fame of Jeremiah encouraged the stout young man in

his tale, and a wedge of tobacco rekindled him.

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