ut there's more noos than that," continued the seaman,
calmly scanning the seaward horizon, as he filled his pipe. "Have 'ee
heard that the Dey Omar has cut off the head of Sidi Hassan for nothin'
worse than a touch of imperliteness?"

"No, I not heers dat," answered Ali, with a look of interest. "I's
werry glad."

"Glad! why so?"

"'Cos Sidi Hassan hims gib me reason to 'xpec' hims cut off _my_ hid
soonerer or laterer."

"It's my opinion," said Flaggan, with a peculiar smile, "that if ye go
cutting away at one another like that, soonerer or laterer you'll all be
like the converse o' the Kilkenny cats, and have nothin' left of 'ee but
your heads stickin' on spikes above your gates and walls."

"Pr'aps so," was Ali's complacent reply.

At this point the conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance
of Angela and her sister Paulina, who carried in her arms the little
Angelina. Following them at some distance came the amiable Zubby,
bearing aloft on her shoulder--as being the place of greatest safety--
Colonel Langley's youngest hope. Master Jim's back-bone had not at that
time attained sufficient stiffness to warrant the position, but Zubby
never thought of that; and Master Jim consequently complained in a
series of yells and wry faces; but Zubby, being ignorant of the state of
his feelings, did not mind that. Master Jim soon became purple in the
visage, but Zubby, looking up at him, and supposing the effect to be the
result of an unusual flow of spirits, rather enjoyed that than
otherwise.

"Pr'aps I may be excused for the observation," said Flaggan, removing
his pipe for a moment, and gazing over Paulina's shoulder, "but if that
youngster ain't being strangulated he looks oncommon--"

A scream from Paulina, as she rushed back and bestowed on Zubby a box on
the ear cut short the seaman's observation.

"Have I not told you again and again, girl, _never_ to put the child on
your shoulder?"

"Oh, mim, me forgit," exclaimed the penitent Zaharian.

"That will keep you in remembrance, then," said Paulina, giving her
another slap.

Her own little one woke up at this point and crowed, being too young, we
presume, to laugh.

"Oh, Signor Flaggan," said Angela earnestly, while her sister entered
into converse with the interpreter, "have you heers yit 'bout de Signors
Rimini?"

Angela had already acquired a very slight amount of broken English,
which tumbled neatly from her pretty lips.

"Whist, cus