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"Call him by any thing along that coast; for he is noway particular, seeing he was never christened, and knows nothing at all of the bearings and distances of religion. His lawful name is S'ip, or Shipio Africa, taken, as I suppose, from the circumstance that he was first shipp'd from that quarter of the world.
Now, look you, S'ip, for the credit of your friends, if you've no great pride on your own behalf, just tell his" "It is of no account," interrupted the Rover. "Take you this glass, and pass an opinion on the sail in sight yourself."
Throwing a handful of small change to the seamen, he wished them a better meal, and crossed the fence, with an apparent intention of examining the ruin also. "The lad is free with his coppers," said Dick, suspending the movements of his teeth, to give the stranger another and a better look; "but, as they will not grow where he has planted them, S'ip, you may turn them over to my pocket.
Now, look you here, S'ip, at the reason of the matter," he continued, in a manner which shewed that the little skirmish that had just passed was like one of those sudden squalls of which they had both seen so many, and which were usually so soon succeeded by corresponding seasons of calm; "look you at the whole rationality of what I say.
"Oh, they'll come soon," replied Mrs. Coomber. "But, now, can't you tell me something about your mother and father, and where you lived, my deary?" she asked again. "I tomed in a s'ip, and 'ou my mammy now," said the child, looking round the cosy room with perfect content. "But where is your own mammy, who taught you to say your prayers?" asked Mrs. Coomber.
Now, answer as if you were hallooing from a lee-earing, S'ip, under what sail would you heave-to a ship, on the coast of your native country, with the danger of a white squall at hand?" "I no heave-'em-to," said the black, "I make 'em scud." "Ay, boy; but, to be in readiness for the puff, would you jam her up under a mainsail, or let her lie a little off under a fore course?"
"It is little matter how you hail a dying man," returned Richard, with at melancholy shake of the head. "He has commonly been entered on the ship's books as Scipio Africa, coming, as he did, from the coast of Guinea; but, if you call him S'ip, he will not be slow to understand." "Has he known baptism? Is he a Christian?"
Now do I call myself something of a seaman, and yet I cannot weather upon the philosophy of that fellow, in keeping his ship in the outer harbour, when he might warp her into this mill-pond in half an hour. It gives his boats hard duty, dusky S'ip; and that I call making foul weather of fair!"
S'ip, you Guinea where are you shoving the skiff to? hereaway lies the island, and you are for going into yonder bit of a church." "Lay on your oars," interrupted Wilder; "let the boat drift by this vessel."
A little bed had been made up for her in the family living-room, and she lay there, quiet but observant, while Mrs. Coomber went about her work cooking and cleaning and mending, and occasionally stopping to kiss the little wistful face that watched her with such quiet curiosity. "Am I in a s'ip now?" the child asked at length, when Mrs. Coomber had kissed her several times.
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