forbid!" cried Clarke, with tears in his eyes, "I'd rather
see you dead than brought to such a dilemma." "Mayhap thou wouldst,"
answered the uncle; "for then, my lad, there would be some picking--aha!
dost thou tip me the traveller, my boy?" Tom assured him he scorned any
such mercenary views. "I am only concerned," said he, "that you should
take any step that might tend to the disgrace of yourself or your family;
and I say again I had rather die than live to see you reckoned any
otherwise than compos."--"Die and be d--ned! you shambling half-timber'd
son of a----," cried the choleric Crowe; "dost talk to me of keeping a
reckoning and compass?--I could keep a reckoning, and box my compass long
enough before thy keelstone was laid--Sam Crowe is not come here to ask
thy counsel how to steer his course." "Lord! sir," resumed the nephew,
"consider what people will say--all the world will think you mad." "Set
thy heart at ease, Tom," cried the seaman, "I'll have a trip to and again
in this here channel. Mad! what then? I think for my part one half of
the nation is mad--and the other not very sound--I don't see why I han't
as good a right to be mad as another man--but, doctor, as I was saying,
I'd be bound to you, if you would direct me where I can buy that same
tackle that all arrant must wear; as for the matter of the long pole,
headed with iron, I'd never desire better than a good boat-hook, and
could make a special good target of that there tin sconce that holds the
candle--mayhap any blacksmith will hammer me a skull-cap, d'ye see, out
of an old brass kettle; and I can call my horse by the name of my ship,
which was Mufti."

The surgeon was one of those wags who can laugh inwardly, without
exhibiting the least outward mark of mirth or satisfaction. He at once
perceived the amusement which might be drawn from this strange
disposition of the sailor, together with the most likely means which
could be used to divert him from such an extravagant pursuit. He
therefore tipped Clarke the wink with one side of his face, while the
other was very gravely turned to the captain, whom he addressed to this
effect. "It is not far from hence to Sheffield, where you might be
fitted completely in half a day--then you must wake your armour in church
or chapel, and be dubbed. As for this last ceremony, it may be performed
by any person whatsoever. Don Quixote was dubbed by his landlord; and
there are many instances on record, of