United States or Iran ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
However, I could not augur ill of one who laughed so heartily, nor of the other, who seemed so happy in making himself a teetotum. Taking advantage of a pause in this singular exhibition, I delivered my credentials to the former and more imposing-looking of the two, who immediately handed them over to Captain Reud.
Captain Reud rose, and steadying himself on his legs, by placing one hand on the back of his chair, and the other on the shoulder of the gentleman that sat next to him, spoke thus: "Gentlemen I'm no scholar that is you comprehend fully on deck, there! don't keep that damned trampling and put me out where was I?" "Please, sir," said I, "you were saying you were no scholar."
I was going, Mr Rattlin, to take you with me to my hotel, having matters of the utmost importance to communicate to you; but, oh no! I am not fastidious, so we had better first have a little private conference in the after gentlemen, will you excuse us?" bowing round "Captain Reud will perhaps do me the favour to be of the party?"
The two guns had long been ready, and, with the lanyard of the lock in his right hand, and the rim of his glazed hat in his left, he was continually saying, "shall I give her a shot now, Captain Reud?" The answer was as provokingly tautologous as a member of parliament's speech, who is in aid of the whipper-in, speaking against time. "Wait a little, Mr Burn."
After two hours' hard pulling, the master would be seen coming up astern, wiping his brows, and, when within hail, Reud would shout to him to give away and, just as he reached the stern ladder, the main-topsail of the frigate would be shivered, and the boat again be left half a mile astern.
I saw the captain and Mr Farmer pacing the deck, but both decidedly with their duty faces on. Touching my hat very submissively, I said sheepishly, "I've come on board, sir, and " "You young blackguard! I've a great mind " "To do what, Mr Farmer?" said Captain Reud, interposing.
The doctor and purser, who were doubtlessly in the secret, wore each a look of the most perplexing gravity the captain one of triumphant mischief; the rest of us, one of the most unfeigned wonder. "If," spluttered out Captain Reud, see-sawing over the yet concealed thing. "If, Mr Paviour, you can pave your way down a river "
So, with a large cortege of officers, the master-at-arms, and the ship's corporals, Captain Reud leaning his right arm heavily upon my left shoulder for he was cunning enough, just then, to find that the gout was getting into his foot we proceeded round the ship on our voyage of discovery. Now, it is no joke for a man half drunk to be tried for drunkenness by one wholly so.
"To a boarding-school kept by a French gentleman at Stickenham, where, in his wife, I thought I had found a mother " "Stop, we are not come to that yet, that is too affecting of that anon, as somebody says in some play. Have you, Captain Reud, a glass of water ready, should this amiable youth or myself feel faint during this exciting investigation?"
My angry looks, my clenched fists, and my threatening attitude, told him plainly that it was no want of spirit that made me duck to the shot. Just as I was passionately exclaiming, "Sir I I I " Captain Reud put his hand gently on my shoulder, and said, "Mr Rattlin, what are you about? Mr Farmer, that blow was not deserved. I, sir," said he, drawing himself up proudly, "ducked to the first shot.
Word Of The Day