k. Captain le Harnois himself seemed more than half
disposed to laugh at his own picture of the holy _Fleurs de lys_. But
at this moment he began to feel drowsy; and, giving up for the present
any further examination of his passenger's theology, he got under
weigh for his cabin: grumbling out, as he advanced, but without looking
back--

"Well: this'll do for the first examination. And for our Lady's sake,
and for the honour of the white lily, Smockface may bundle himself
between decks--till the next time that we pump ship; and then he must
over board with the bilge water. We must be charitable now and then for
our Lady's sake. But let us have no irreligion. Let all be handsome,
lovely, Bourbonish, and religious. What the d---l! An irreligious
dog aboard Captain le Harnois? But I shall overhaul his principles:
for that's what my commission says: else my name's not le Harnois:
damn!"--With which emphatic monosyllable, ascending in a growl from the
bottom of the companion ladder, Captain le Harnois concluded his matins
on the deck of the _Fleurs de lys_.

A roar of laughter followed his final disappearance; and a succession
of songs, which seemed any thing but "handsome, lovely, Bourbonish,
or religious."

CHAPTER IV.

_Pist._ Perpend my words, O Signieur Dew, and mark;
O Signieur Dew, thou diest on point of fox,
Except, O Signieur, thou do give to me
Egregious ransome.

_Fr. Sol._ O prenez misericorde, ayez pitie de moy!
_Pis._ Moy shall not sarve; I will have forty moys.
_Hen. V._--Act 4.

Spite of the Captain's absence, and though there was no regular officer
to represent him, Bertram was surprised to find that the duty on deck
seemed in no respect to suffer--either in order, precision, or
alacrity. All were in full activity, moving with the industry, and
almost with the instinct of bees, in the tops--among the shrouds--or on
deck; handling the ropes, trimming the sails, sounding, and performing
all other parts of a vigilant seaman's duty. This seemed the more
remarkable, as most of the crew carried a flask of brandy slung about
their necks; very few of them choosing to justify the Captain's
flattering picture of their orthodoxy by substituting a rosary.

The steady old helmsman, to whom Bertram was communicating his
astonishment, replied--

"Aye, aye; but this is nothing: you should