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Jack had gone on board, leaving fourteen of his men on board the galliot Gascoigne had done the same Mesty still remained on board his vessel; and they were congratulating themselves, and ordering the men on board to the windlass, when they heard the sound of oars. "Silence! what is that?" exclaimed Oxbelly. "The gun-boats or row-boats, as sure as I'm alive!"
Well, Mr Easy, it was hard to part with him in so unhandsome a way but all's for the best in this world. What a dear nice lady your wife is, Mr Easy but I won't intrude beg pardon. Where is the brig, Mr Easy?" "Now coming into harbour," replied Gascoigne; "if you bargain, you can get off for twopence." "Five hundred pounds!" exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly, whose wrath was now appeased.
"Fire a gun for the prizes to close," said Jack; "we will put the men on board again, and then be off to Palermo as fast as we can." "We can do no better," said Oxbelly. "If ever I chance to meet that fellow again, I will trouble him to repeat his words. Trim the sails, my lads." "His language was unpardonable," observed Jack.
"I do; he knows how I am circumstanced, and that my going home was merely because I was tired of looking after the Aurora." "We'll go together and ask him to-morrow," replied Jack. "At all events, you'll have a more gentlemanly companion than Mr Oxbelly." "But not so steady, Ned." The first lieutenant and officers came on board, and passed a merry evening.
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 a 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.
Well, Mr Easy, it was hard to part with him in so unhandsome a way but all's for the best in this world. What a dear, nice lady your wife is, Mr Easy but I won't intrude I beg pardon. Where is the brig, Mr Easy?" "Now coming into the harbour," replied Gascoigne: "if you bargain you can get off for twopence." "Five hundred pounds!" exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly, whose wrath was now appeased.
"A very good speech, Mr Easy," said Mr Oxbelly, as the men went forward; "I wish my wife had heard it. But, sir, if you please, we'll now get under way as fast as we can, for there is a Channel cruiser working up at St. Helen's, and we may give him the go-by by running through the Needles." "But what need we care for the Channel cruiser?"
"Very true, Mr Gascoigne, but it's not our fault if we are obliged to take men by force; it's the fault of those who do not legislate so as to prevent the necessity. Mrs Oxbelly used to say that she would easily manage the matter if she were Chancellor of the Exchequer."
The lieutenant was thrown in after them, by the nervous arm of Mesty and assailed by cold shot and other missiles, they sheered off with precipitation, and pulled back in the direction of the frigate. "There will be a row about this," said Oxbelly, "as soon as they come clear of the vessel. If the frigate gets hold of us she will show us no mercy. There is a breeze coming from the north-west.
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.
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