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"Ay, and I will take you any bet you please, that the skipper never takes that boy's life. He's charmed, or I am a gudgeon." Vanslyperken felt that it was his own suspicion, and he trembled at the idea of the lad being supernatural. "Out of the way, Coble, or I'll fill your shoes," cried out one of the men, slashing a bucket of water.
"D'ye know much of that strapping lass?" said Mr Vanslyperken's new acquaintance. "Not I," replied Vanslyperken, not much pleased at the observation. "Well, look out for squalls, she'll be as good as her word. We'll draw the foresheet, and stand in now, if you please." It was about dusk, for the days were now short, and the cutter was eight miles off the land.
"Ill!" exclaimed Vanslyperken; "your dear, charming mistress ill! Good heavens! what is the matter, my dear Babette?" replied Vanslyperken, with all the pretended interest of a devoted lover. "All through you, Mr Vanslyperken," replied Babette. "Me!" exclaimed Vanslyperken. "Well, all through your nasty cur, which is the same thing." "My dog!
"He is more afraid of me than I of him; but, howsomever, it's just as well not to be here, as it may get others in trouble. Mind you say at once it was me I defy him." Moggy then wished them good-bye, and quitted the cutter, when she was met, as we have already observed, by Vanslyperken.
As soon as the cutter was at anchor, Ramsay ordered his portmanteau into the boat, and Vanslyperken having accompanied him on shore, they separated, Ramsay informing Vanslyperken that he would wish to see him the next day, and giving him his address.
Things were in this state when the cutter arrived at Portsmouth, and, as usual, ran into the harbour. It may be supposed that Mr Vanslyperken was in all haste to go on shore to pay his visit to his charming widow, but still there was one thing to be done first, which was to report himself to the admiral.
"Corporal Van Spitter, I order you below all of you below," cried Vanslyperken; "I command here will you obey, sir?" "Mein Gott! yes," replied the corporal, walking away, and coolly descending the ladder. The boats were now within ten yards of the cutter, and the men stood irresolute; the corporal obeying orders had disheartened them: some of them followed the corporal.
The fact is, that he was between the horns of a dilemma; but the devil, who always helps his favourites, came to the aid of Mr Vanslyperken. The small boat was, as usual, hoisted up astern, and Mr Vanslyperken's eyes were accidentally cast upon it.
They assented willingly to the proposal, declaring that if Vanslyperken attempted to hurt the lad, they would rise, and throw Mr Vanslyperken overboard; and everything being arranged, Moggy was about to depart, when Vanslyperken, who was in a state of miserable anxiety and torture, and who had been drowning his conscience in scheedam, came on deck not a little the worse for what he had been imbibing.
"I wish I could only think as she does," muttered Vanslyperken at last; and as he concluded this devout wish, his arm was touched by a neatly-dressed little girl, who curtsied, and asked if he was not Lieutenant Vanslyperken, belonging to the cutter. Vanslyperken replied in the affirmative, and the little girl then said that a lady, her mistress, wished to speak to him.
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