mes afore firin'. That's what I means to do, anyway. As for
ghostes, I do believe, an' I don't believe."

"What? That a man's spirit comes back after death to trouble folks?"

"I dunno 'bout sperrit: but I heerd a tale wance 'bout a man's
remains as gi'ed a peck o' trouble arter death. 'Twas ould Commodore
Trounce as the remains belonged to, an' 'tes a queer yarn, ef you
niver heerd et afore."

Caleb looked at his master. Mr. Fogo had not yet told the story of
his call at "The Bower"; but Caleb saw that he was suffering, and had
planned this story as a diversion.

The bait took. Mr. Fogo looked up expectant, and lit a fresh pipe.
So Caleb settled himself in his corner of the window-seat, and, still
keeping an eye on the old schooner, began--

"THE COMMODORE'S PROGRESS.

"You've heerd me spake, sir, o' Joe Bonaday, him as made poetry 'long
wi' me wan time when lying becalmed off Ilfrycombe?"

"Certainly."

"Well, this Joe were a Barnstaple man, bred an' born. But he had a
brother--Sam were hes name--as came an' settled out Carne way;
'Ould These-an'-Thicky,' us used to call 'n. Sam was a crowder, [2]
you must knaw, an' used to play the fiddle over to Tregarrick Fair;
but he cudn' niver play more'n two tunes. 'Which'll 'ee ha',' he
used to say, 'which'll 'ee ha'--these or thicky?' That's why, tho'
he was christened Sam, us used to call 'n These-an'-Thicky for
short."

"I see."

"This 'ere Sam Bonaday, tho' he came an' settled down i' these parts,
was a bettermost body i' some ways, an' had a-seen a heap o' life
'long wi' ould Commodore Trounce. Sam was teetotum to the Commodore,
an' acted currier when th' ould man travelled, which he did a brave
bit--brushin' hes clothes, an' shinin' hes boots, an' takin' the
tickets, an' the res'. The Commodore were mighty fond o' Sam: an' as
for Sam, he used to say he mou't ha' been the Commodore's brother--
on'y, you see, he warn't."

"I think I understand," said Mr. Fogo.

"Iss, sir. Well, t'ward the end o' hes days the Commodore were
stashuned out at Gibraltar, an' o' cou'se takes Sam. He'd a-been
ailin' for a tidy spell, had the Commodore, an' I reckon that place
finished 'un; for he hadn' been there a month afore he tuk a chill,
purty soon Sam saw 'twas on'y a matter o' time afore th' ould man wud
go dead.

"Sam kep' hes maaster goin' 'pon brandy an' milk for a while; but
wan day he comes in an' finds 'un settin' up in bed an' starin'.
T