aphore by day, and at night for
beacon, in the times of war and tumult; and most people called it the
"Monument." This station was now of very small importance, and sometimes
did nothing for a year together; but still it was very good and useful,
because it enabled an ancient tar, whose feet had been carried away by
a cannon-ball, to draw a little money once a month, and to think himself
still a fine British bulwark.

In the summer-time this hero always slung his hammock here, with plenty
of wind to rock him off to sleep, but in winter King AEolus himself
could not have borne it. "Monument Joe," as almost everybody called him,
was a queer old character of days gone by. Sturdy and silent, but as
honest as the sun, he made his rounds as regularly as that great orb,
and with equally beneficent object. For twice a day he stumped to fetch
his beer from Widow Precious, and the third time to get his little
pannikin of grog. And now the time was growing for that last important
duty, when a stranger stood before him with a crown piece in his hand.

"Now don't get up, captain, don't disturb yourself," said Mr. Mordacks,
graciously; "your country has claimed your activity, I see, and I hope
it makes amends to you. At the same time I know that it very seldom
does. Accept this little tribute from the admiration of a friend."

Old Joe took the silver piece and rung it on his tin tobacco-box, then
stowed it inside, and said, "Gammon! What d'ye want of me?"

"Your manners, my good Sir, are scarcely on a par with your merits.
I bribe no man; it is the last thing I would ever dream of doing. But
whenever a question of memory arises, I have often observed a great
failure of that power without--without, if you will excuse the
expression, the administration of a little grease."

"Smooggling? Aught about smooggling?" Old Joe shut his mouth sternly;
for he hated and scorned the coast-guards, whose wages were shamefully
above his own, and who had the impudence to order him for signals;
while, on the other hand, he found free trade a policy liberal,
enlightening, and inspiriting.

"No, captain, no; not a syllable of that. You have been in this place
about sixteen years. If you had only been here four years more, your
evidence would have settled all I want to know. No wreck can take place
here, of course, without your knowledge?"

"Dunno that. B'lieve one have. There's a twist of the tide here--but
what good to tell landlubbers?"

"You