to notify an enemy at hand, for the barking of the dog
had not escaped the vigilance of those on shore, and in a few seconds
she disappeared in the mist.

"Blast your cur! Five thousand pounds out of my pocket," exclaimed the
informer. "I told you so. Chuck him overboard, my men, for your
pockets would have been lined."

Vanslyperken was as savage, and exclaimed, "Give way, my men, give way;
we'll have her yet."

"Send a cow to chase a hare," replied the informer, throwing himself
back in the stern sheets of the boat. "I know better; you may save
yourself the trouble, and the men the fatigue. May the devil take you,
and your cursed dog with you! Who but a fool would have brought a dog
upon such an occasion? Well, I've lost live thousand pounds; but
there's one comfort, you've lost too. That will be a valuable beast, if
you put all down to his account."

At this moment Vanslyperken was so much annoyed at the loss of what
would have been a fortune to him, that he felt as angry as the informer.
The boat's crew were equally enraged, the dog was pommelled, and
kicked, and passed along from one to the other, until he at last gained
the stern sheets, and crouched between the legs of his master, who
kicked him away in a rage, and he saved himself under the legs of the
informer, who, seizing a pistol, struck him with the butt-end of it such
a blow, that nothing but the very thick skull of the dog could have
saved him. Snarleyyow was at a sad discount just then, but he very
wisely again sought protection with his master, and this time he was not
noticed.

"What are we to do now?" observed Vanslyperken.

"Go back again, like dogs with their tails between their legs; but
observe, Mr Lieutenant, you have made me your enemy, and that is more
serious than you think for."

"Silence, sir, you are in a king's boat."

"The king be damned," replied the informer, falling back sulkily against
the gunwale of the boat.

"Give way, men, and pull on board," said Vanslyperken, in equally bad
humour.

In equally bad humour the men did give way, and in about an hour were on
board the cutter.

Every one was in a bad humour when the affair was made known; but
Smallbones observed, "that the dog could be no such great friend, as
supposed, of Vanslyperken's, to thwart his interests in that way; and
certainly no imp sent by the devil to his assistance." The ship's
company were consoled with this idea, and Jansen again repeated,