e tap-room,
puffing away care, and singing with Stentorian voice to the surrounding
company--

"From Irongate to Limehouse Hole,
You will not meet a kinder soul,
While the Thames is flowing,
Pull away ho--Pull away ho."

~~295~~~ In search of real life and character, and at all times rather
inclined to promote mirth than spoil sport, our friends immediately
entered unperceived by Barney, and taking an opposite corner of the
room, were quickly attended by the landlord, who received orders, and
produced them supplies.

The song being over, and Barney rewarded for his exertions by the most
enthusiastic applause of the room, he renewed his pipe, at the same
time declaring to a soldier who sat near him, he thought "he had miss'd
fire, for he was d------d if he didn't think he'd lost his company,
or his company had lost him--but that he had taken care to nibble the
blunt, and upon that there score all was right--so landlord tip us
another quart, and if they don't make their appearance by the time
I've got through that, I'll tip them the toddle, shove off my boat, and
disappear.--That's the time of day, an't it, boy."

"Why aye, to be sure," replied the soldier, "you watermen leads a happy
life; you are your own masters, you does just as you pleases, while a
soldier dare as well be d------d as desert his post. But I say, Barney,
mind what

you says,--nose--nose;" accompanying the last two words with a
significant action of placing his finger on his nose, and winking his
eye.

Upon this intimation, which appeared to be well understood by Barney,
he puffed off an immoderate cloud of smoke, and looking round the room,
perceived his customers in the corner.

"Be quiet," said he, "that's my fare--so it's all right again,--Do you
want me, gentlemen; I am always ready, so that whenever you says the
word, Barney's your boy."

"Presently," said Dashall, "for it would be hard to make you start upon
a full jorum."

"Why I must say," continued Barney, "I never likes to leave a foaming
quart behind me;" and catching hold of the pot of _heavy wet_, he roared
out,--

"What a hearty blade am I,

Care can never touch my heart;
Every trouble I defy,
While I view the foaming quart."

and taking a hearty drink, he handed it to his companion, filled
his pipe afresh, lighted, and informed the gentlemen he was at their
service; when in a few minutes all being r