amusement to the sailors and other people who were assembled on the
quay.

"_Ah, mon capitaine, charme de vous revoir. Buvons un coup, n'est-ce
pas_?" said the proprietor of the cabaret, presenting a bottle of prime
French brandy, and a liquor glass, to the captain, as he entered.

"_Heureux voyage, n'est-ce pas, Monsieur_?"

"_Ca va bien_," replied the captain, throwing the glass of liquor down
his throat. "My apartments, if you please, and a bed for this lad.
Tell Mr Beaujou, the slopseller, to come here directly with some
clothes for him. Is Captain Debriseau here?"

"He is, sir,--lost all his last cargo--obliged to throw over in deep
water."

"Never mind: he ran the two before--he can afford it."

"Ah, but Captain Debriseau is in a very bad humour, nevertheless. He
called me an old cheat this morning--_c'est incroyable_."

"Well, present my compliments to him, and say that I request the honour
of his company, if he is not otherwise engaged. Come, youngster."

The landlord of the cabaret ushered the captain of the sloop and our
hero, with many profound bows, into a low dark room, with only one
window, the light from which was intercepted by a high wall, not four
feet distant. The floor was paved with tiles, the table was deal, not
very clean, and the whitewashed walls were hung around with stiff
drawings of several smuggling vessels, whose superior sailing and
consequent good fortune had rendered them celebrated in the port of
Cherbourg. The straw had been lighted under some logs of wood on the
hearth, which as yet emitted more smoke than flame: a few chairs, an old
battered sofa, and an upright press, completed the furniture.

"I knew your beautiful sloop long before she came in--there's no
mistaking her; and I ordered the apartment _de Monsieur_ to be prepared.
_C'est un joli apartement, n'est-ce pas, Monsieur_? so retired!" With
some forbearance, but with great judgment, the beauty of the prospect
was not expatiated upon by the obsequious landlord.

"It will do to smoke and eat in, Monsieur Picardon, and that is all that
I require. Now bring pipes and tobacco, and take my message to Captain
Debriseau."

The latter gentlemen and the pipes were ushered in at the same moment.

"McElvina, my dear fellow, I am glad to see that you have had better
luck than I have had this last trip. Curses on the cutter.
_Sacristie_," continued Captain Debriseau, who was a native of Guernsey,
"the wind favoured