"Understand, sir?" cried the lieutenant, who was growing scarlet with
heat and wrath. "It seems to me that you do not understand. Pray, who
are you?"

"Business man and overseer of this plantation for my friend here, Mr
James Allen, who trusts me to carry on his affairs for him, being a sick
man just getting over a fever. There, I don't want to be surly to an
English officer, though I never found one civil to me. You've dropped
anchor off here, and I suppose you want water. Well, if you do I'll put
a gang of my slaves on to help your men fill their casks."

"I am exceedingly obliged to you, sir," said the lieutenant
sarcastically.

"Wal, that's spoke better," said the American. "And if you want some
fresh meat and vegetables you can have a boat-load or two if you like to
pay for 'em with a chest or so of tea. You'd like a few bottles o' port
wine, too, for your complaint, wouldn't you, Allen?" he continued,
turning to the pale, nervous man at his side.

"Yes--yes," faltered the poor fellow.

"Really, you are too condescending," cried the lieutenant. "Mr
Roberts--Mr Murray--did you ever hear the like of this? Here, May--
Titely--what do you say to this American gentleman?"

Tom May took off his straw hat and gave his curly hair a rake with his
fingers, while Titely stared with all his might.

"It caps me, sir," said the latter, while Tom May looked at the
American, then at the two middies in turn, and shook his head.

"Well, sir, why don't you speak?" cried his officer angrily.

"'Cause it's such a rum un, sir."

"Bah! Speak out, man, and don't hesitate. You remember seeing this man
before?"

"Well, sir, I seem to ha' seen him afore, and then I don't seem, and get
kind o' mixed up. Sometimes it looks like him and sometimes it don't
look like him, sir. Beg your pardon, sir, but would you mind asking my
messmate here--Titely?"

"Bah, man! The sun has made you giddy."

"Well, skipper, when you like I'm ready for an answer. Want the water
and fresh vittles?"

"My dear Huggins," said the trembling owner of the place, "it would be
far better if you explained to the King's officer--"

"You leave me and the King's officer alone, James Allen," said the
American sturdily.

"But I'm sure--" whispered the planter.

"So'm I. You keep your tongue between your teeth, and I dessay we can
settle matters. Look here, Mr Officer, I'm boss of all the business
here, and you needn't take no notice of this