by the
tail, which he was pulling away with him, while an old lady was
screaming out for help or whenever she ran to assist her dog, the baboon
made at her as if he would have ravished her, and caught her by the
petticoats with one hand, while he had the pug-dog fast by the other. I
owed that brute a spite for having attacked me one night when I passed
him, and perceiving what was going on, I drew my sword and gave Mr
Jacko such a clip, as sent him away howling and bleeding like a pig,
leaving me in possession of the little pug, which I took up and handed
to his mistress. The old lady trembled very much, and begged me to see
her safe home. She had a very fine house, and after she was seated on
the sofa, thanked me very much for my gallant assistance, as she termed
it, and told me her name was Kearney: upon this I very soon proved my
relationship with her, at which she was much delighted, requesting me to
consider her house as my home. I was for two years afterwards on that
station, and played my cards very well; and the old lady gave me a hint
that I should be her heir, as she had no other relations that she knew
anything of. At last I was ordered home, and not wishing to leave her,
I begged her to accompany me, offering her my cabin. She was taken very
ill a fortnight before we sailed, and made a will, leaving me her sole
heir; but she recovered, and got as fat as ever. Mr Simple, the wine
stands with you. I doubt if Lord Privilege gave you better claret than
there is in that bottle: I imported it myself ten years ago, when I
commanded the _Coquette_."

"Very odd," observed the first lieutenant--"we bought some at Barbadoes
with the same mark on the bottles and cork."

"That may be," replied the captain; "old established houses all keep up
the same marks; but I doubt if your wine can be compared to this. You
have never tasted older wine, I think, Mr Phillott."

"I beg you pardon, sir; but I can prove to you that I have, for when
Noah paid off the ark, my ancestor bought his _sea stock_, and it's been
handed down to my father: there may be three dozen left."

"Really, Mr Phillott, you are almost too facetious. Will you take some
macaroni. It is one of the best things we can have at sea. I wish you
had seen my kitchen at Walcot Abbey."

"I have no doubt but it was excellent," replied Mr Phillott; "but I
should have preferred eating what came from it. I wish that I had a
knowledge of the art which a frie