But come,
shipmate, may I never want 'bacca, if we don't drink his health, and
that 'ere gemman you've taken in tow shall join us, if he likes." I
was too much amused to desire to part company just yet, and the
good-humoured tars perceiving my bent, linked themselves to each arm,
and in this way, laughing at the curiosity we provoked, did our party
reach the middle of Point-street, and brought ourselves to anchor
under the head of old Admiral Benbow, where Tom assured us we should
be supplied with the best of grog and ship-stores of the first quality.
Horace had proceeded to escort some ladies, whom he met with on board
the steamboat, to the house of a friend in the High-street, where I
had appointed to meet him in the space of an hour. Sitting myself down
therefore with my two jovial associates, I determined to humour
the frolic which had brought me into the society of such eccentric
characters. "Shiver my timbers! Jem," said the one-legged mariner, "but
you never make any inquiries after Betsy Bluff, among your other old
friends. It's true, the wench has got spliced again, to be sure; but
then, you know, she waited three years, and had the log-books overhauled
first." "Ay, ay, Tom, so they say she did; but I never believed 'em:
howsomedever, that wasn't the worst of it; for having got my will and my
power in her possession, she drew all my pay and prize-money, and when
at last I got home from an enemy's keeping, I had not a shot left in the
locker to keep myself.
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