Mr Oxbelly was also walking near them.

"When I was cruising here it was very different," observed Jack; "I had
a vessel which I did not know how to manage, a crew which I could not
command, and had it not been for Mesty, what would have become of me?"

"Massa Easy, you know very well how to get out of scrapes, anyhow."

"Yes, and how to get into them," continued Gascoigne.

"And how to get others out of them, too, Ned."

"`No more of that Hal, an thou lovest me,'" quoted Gascoigne. "I have
often wondered what has been the lot of poor Azar."

"The lot of most women, Ned, in every country--prized at first,
neglected afterwards--the lot she might have had with you."

"Perhaps so," replied Ned, with a sigh.

"Massa Easy, you get eberybody out of scrape; you get me out of scrape."

"I do not recollect how, Mesty."

"You get me out from boil kettle for young gentlemen--dat devil of
scrape."

"And I'm sure I've got you out of a scrape, Mr Oxbelly."

"How so, Mr Easy?"

"How so!--have I not prevented your quarrelling with your wife every
night?"

"Certainly, sir, you have been the means. But, do you know, when we
were engaging the other day, I could not help saying to myself, `I wish
my wife was here now, holding little Billy at the hatchway.'"

"But at night, Mr Oxbelly."

"At night!--why, then I'm afraid I should have wished her home again--
it's astonishing how comfortable I sleep now every night. Besides, in
this climate it would be intolerable. Mrs Oxbelly is a very large
woman--very large indeed."

"Well, but now we must hold a council of war. Are we to run up the
coast, or to shape our course direct for Palermo?"

"Course direct, and we shall take nothing, that is certain," said
Gascoigne.

"If we take nothing we shall make no prize-money," continued Oxbelly.

"If we make no prize-money the men will be discontented," said Easy.

"If no ab noting to do--it will be damned 'tupid," continued Mesty.

"Now then the other side of the question. If we steer for Palermo, we
shall be sooner there and sooner home."

"To which I reply," said Gascoigne, "that the shorter the cruise is, the
less I shall have of your company."

"And I shall have to sleep with Mrs Oxbelly," continued Oxbelly.

"Hab fine ship, fine gun, fine men, and do noting," cried Mesty. "By de
power, I no like dat, Massa Easy."

"You want eight months of coming of age, Jack," observed Gascoigne.

"It won't make a difference