nothing for it now but to stay quiet and hope you 'll not be noticed.
Take those knives up, will ye,' said she, flinging a napkin towards me,
and speaking in an altered voice, for already two figures were darkening
the entrance, and peering down into the depth below, while turning to
Santron she motioned him to remove the dishes from the table--a service
in which, to do him justice, he exhibited a zeal more flattering to his
tact than his spirit of resistance.

'Tripped their anchors already, Mother Martin?' said a large-whiskered
man, with a black belt round his waist; while, passing round the tables,
he crammed into his mouth several fragments of the late feast.

'You wouldn't have 'em wait for you, Captain John,' said she, laughing.

'It's just what I would, then,' replied he. 'The Admiralty has put
thirty shillings more on the bounty, and where will these fellows get
the like of that? It isn't a West India service, neither, nor a coastin'
cruise off Newfoundland, but all as one as a pleasure-trip up the
Mediterranean, and nothing to fight but Frenchmen. Eh, younker, that
tickles your fancy,' cried he to Santron, who, in spite of himself, made
some gesture of impatience.

'Handy chaps, those, Mother Martin; where did you chance on'em?'

'They're sons of a Canada skipper in the river yonder,' said she calmly.

'They aren't over like to be brothers,' said he, with the grin of one
too well accustomed to knavery to trust anything opposed to his own
observation. 'I suppose them's things happens in Canada as elsewhere,'
said he, laughing, and hoping the jest might turn her flank. Meanwhile
the press leader never took his eyes off me, as I arranged plates and
folded napkins with all the skill which my early education in Boivin's
restaurant had taught me.

'He is a smart one,' said he, half musingly. 'I say, boy, would you like
to go as cook's aid on board a king's ship? I know of one as would just
suit you.'

'I'd rather not, sir; I'd not like to leave my father,' said I, backing
up Mrs. Martin's narrative.

'Nor that brother, there; wouldn't he like it?'

I shook my head negatively.

'Suppose I have a talk with the skipper about it,' said he, looking at
me steadily for some seconds. 'Suppose I was to tell him what a good
berth you 'd have, eh?'

'Oh, if he wished it, I'd make no objection,' said I, assuming all the
calmness I could.

'That chap ain't your brother--and he's no sailor neither. Show me your
h