if the interest of my father can procure you a king's
commission, you shall not want it, believe me."

"And if half my fortune can give additional stimulus to
exertion, it shall be shared, with pleasure, between
yourself and crew," observed Sir Everard.

"Thank your honours,--thank your honours," said the
boatswain, somewhat electrified by these brilliant offers.
"The lads may take the money, if they like; all I cares
about is the king's commission. Give me but a swab on my
shoulder, and the money will come fast enough of itself.
But, still, shiver my topsails, if I wants any bribery
to make me do my duty; besides, if 'twas only for them
poor girls alone, I would go through fire and water to
sarve them. I'm not very chicken-hearted in my old age,
your honours, but I don't recollect the time when I
blubbered so much as I did when Miss Madeline come aboard.
But I can't bear to think of it; and now let us see and
get all ready for towing."

Every thing now became bustle and activity on board the
schooner. The matches, no longer required for the moment,
were extinguished, and the heavy cutlasses and pistols
unbuckled from the loins of the men, and deposited near
their respective guns. Light forms flew aloft, and,
standing out upon the yards, loosely furled the sails
that had previously been hauled and clewed up; but, as
this was an operation requiring little time in so small
a vessel, those who were engaged in it speedily glided