peas-pudding soon were on the table. We dined
heartily, and were sitting over the latter part of the first bottle in
conversation, it being near upon the eleventh hour, when we heard a
noise, at the gate--observed some figures of men, who stayed a short
time and then disappeared. The door opened, and Moonshine went out. In
a few seconds he returned, bringing in his arms an anker of spirits,
which he laid on the floor, grinning so wide that his head appeared half
off. Without saying a word, he left the room and returned with another.

"Why, what the devil's this?" cried Cockle.

Moonshine made no answer, but went out and in until he had brought six
ankers in, one after another, which he placed in a row on the floor. He
then shut the outside door, bolted it, came in, and seating himself on
one of the tubs, laughed to an excess which compelled him to hold his
sides; Cockle and I looking on in a state of astonishment.

"Where the devil did all this come from?" cried Cockle, getting out of
his easy chair. "Tell me, sir, or by--"

"I tell you all, Massa Cockle:--you find me better friend dan Missy
O'Bottom. Now you hab plenty, and neber need scold Moonshine 'pose he
take lilly drap. I get all dis present to you, Massa Cockle."

Feeling anxious, I pressed Moonshine to tell his story.

"I tell you all, sar. When I come back wid de two bottle I meet plenty
men wid de tubs: dey say, `Hollo there, who be you?' I say, `I come
from station: bring massa two bottel, and I show um.' Den dey say,
`Where you massa?' and I say, `At um house at Ryde'--(den dey tink dat
you my massa, Massa Farren)--so dey say, `Yes, we know dat, we watch him
dere, but now you tell, so we beat you dead.' Den I say, `What for dat;
massa like drink, why you no gib massa some tub, and den he neber say
noting, only make fuss some time, 'cause of Admirality.' Den dey say,
`You sure of dat?' and I say, `Quite sure massa neber say one word.'
Den dey talk long while; last, dey come and say, `You come wid us and
show massa house.' So two men come wid me, and when dey come to gate I
say, `Dis massa house when he live at Ryde, and dere you see massa;'--
and I point to Massa Cockle, but dey see Massa Ferran--so dey say. `All
very good; tree, four hour more, you find six tub here; tell you massa
dat every time run tub, he alway hab six;' den dey go way, den dey come
back, leave tub; dat all, massa."

"You rascal!" exclaimed I, rising up, "so you have