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"Weel, Captain Ogilvy, they just have; gone to the bottom, I might a'most say. I've come to tell ye that the fact is, that the press-gang have catched us at last, and ta'en awa' my mate, Jock Swankie, better kenn'd as Big Swankie."
"The best, certainly," said the lieutenant, as he poured out a bumper, and handed it to the smuggler. "It was smuggled, of course, and you see His Majesty is kind enough to give his servants a little of what they rescue from the rascals, to drink his health." "Weel, I drink to the King," said Swankie, "an' confusion to all his enemies, 'specially to smugglers."
If criminals would always tell on themselves as plainly as Big Swankie did, there would be no use for lawyers." "Swankie would not have spoken so freely," said Minnie, with a laugh, "if he had known that we were listening." "That's true, girl," said the captain, with sudden gravity; "and I don't feel quite easy in my mind about that same eavesdropping.
He relocked the door, and assuring his mother that it was only robbers, and that they had been beaten off, retired to his room, washed and dressed his wounds, and went to bed. Meanwhile Big Swankie and the Badger, laden with silver, made for the shore, where they hid their treasure in a hole. "I'll tell 'ee a dodge," said the Badger. "What may that be?" enquired Swankie.
On the night in question, Big Swankie and a likeminded companion, who went among his comrades by the name of the Badger, had planned to commit a burglary in the town, and it chanced that the former was about that business when Captain Ogilvy unexpectedly ran against him and Davy Spink.
"Easy to prove it!" said the captain in an excited tone; "wasn't you seen, just about the hour of the robbery, going stealthily down the street, by Big Swankie and Davy Spink, both of whom will swear to it." "Yes, but you were with me, uncle."
"Ay, these are my good friends Swankie and Spink, who know a deal more about other improper callings besides smuggling, if I did not greatly mistake their words," cried Ruby. "Give way, lads!" cried the lieutenant.
He is a sunny creature but combative sometimes, when he draws down his brows, sets his eyes, his chubby cheeks flush, and his lips go back from his almond-white teeth. "I am Swankie the Berserker," says he, quoting out of his favourite "Erling the Bold," which Daddy reads aloud at bed-time.
Glumm, however, did not keep close to him this time, but made direct for Hakon's ship, for he remembered that he was Ada's father, and thought he might do him some service. As he was coming near he saw Swankie, a famous berserk, fighting furiously on board Hakon's ship, and roaring, as was the wont of berserkers sometimes, like a wild bull.
"Hem well, my lad, in so far as that does damage to you, I'm sorry for it; but as regards society at large, I rather think that Swankie havin' tripped his anchor is a decided advantage. If you lose by this in one way, you gain much in another; for your mate's companionship did ye no good. Birds of a feather should flock together. You're better apart, for I believe you to be an honest man, Spink."
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