s and discretion is enhanced; you will return to your post with
redoubled ardor, and vigor renewed by recreation; you will be twice the
man you were, and certainly ought to get double pay. I have interest; I
may be enabled to double your salary--if you go on well."

This made both of them look exceeding downcast, and chew the bitter quid
of disappointment. They had laid their heads together over glass number
one, and resolved upon asking for a guinea a week; over glass number
two, they had made up their minds upon getting two guineas weekly; and
glass number three had convinced them that they must be poor fools to
accept less than three. Also they felt that the guineas they had spent,
in drinking their way up to a great discovery, should without hesitation
be made good ere ever they had another pint of health. In this
catastrophe of large ideas, the father gazed sadly at the son, and the
son reproachfully reflected the paternal gaze. How little availed it to
have come up here, wearily going on upon yellow waters, in a barge where
the fleas could man the helm, without aid of the stouter insect, and
where a fresh run sailor was in more demand than salmon; and even
without that (which had largely enhanced the inestimable benefit of
having wooden legs), this pair of tars had got into a state of mind to
return the whole way upon horseback. No spurs could they wear, and no
stirrups could they want, and to get up would be difficult; but what is
the use of living, except to conquer difficulties? They rejoiced all the
more in the four legs of a horse, by reason of the paucity of their
own; which approves a liberal mind. But now, where was the horse to come
from, or the money to make him go?

"You look sad," proceeded Mr. Mordacks. "It grieves me when any good
man looks sad; and doubly so when a brace of them do it. Explain your
feelings, Joe and Bob; if it lies in a human being to relieve them, I
will do it."

"Captain, we only wants what is our due," said Bob, with his chin up,
and his strong eyes stern. "We have been on the loose; and it is the
manner of us, and encouraged by the high authorities. We have come
across, by luck of drink, a thing as seems to suit you; and we have told
you all our knowledge without no conditions. If you takes us for a pair
of fools, and want no more of us, you are welcome, and it will be what
we are used to; but if your meaning is to use us, we must have fair
wages; and even so, we would have na