stop his grog. Where
was I? Let me take the latitude once more. Aye, here away bearing up
to tell how I liked this prig of a town."

"Blast my tarry top-lights and to'gallant eyebrows. Do you call this a
town?" demanded Bill. "Folk does not call a thing like this a town in
old Hingland."

"Aye, old England forever," cried the Captain, standing up. "Boys,
fill your cups all round, and we will drink a health to our dear old
mammy."

"I should like to pleasure you, Captain," said one of the citizens,
"and will drink in all reason till sundown, but there is a law against
drinking healths."

"I suppose there will be a law next," exclaimed the Captain, "against
eating, and that will finish the job. The rest of you may do as you
like, but Jack Sparhawk never yet was afraid of any man, and is not
going now to strike his peak to Admiral Winthrop. So here's a toast
for ye:

"Prosperity to England's friends!
Perdition to her foes!
Heaven to herself! to hell she sends
All Spaniards and Crapeaua!"

Saying this, he drained his cup. "And now, boys, about this little
starched old maid of a town--"

"There you are, in a fog, Captain," interrupted Pantry. "How can it be
an old maid, when, on every tack, half a dozen children, like so many
porpoises, come across your bows?"

"Any wit but thine own would easily box that compass," answered the
Captain. "But talking is thirsty business, and we will have up another
bottle. Halloa, old Nettletop, bear a hand with some more of your
weak-waters. What do you stand gaping there for, like a chicken with
the pip? Off with you. And now, while old Thistle is rummaging the
locker, I will give you my mind about this matter of--"

But, alas! an incident now occurred which has deprived posterity
forever of the invaluable opinion of Captain Sparhawk respecting the
appearance of Boston in 16--, and of his explanation of the phenomenon
suggested by Bill.

Some five or ten minutes before, a grave looking personage, with a
long staff in his hand, had stolen quietly into the room, unnoticed by
any one but Arundel--the landlord being absent at the time--and taken
a seat where he could overhear the conversation. Upon mine host's
return, and noticing the stranger, he exhibited some embarrassment,
and endeavored to catch the attention of the drinking party without
attracting that of the new comer. His efforts, however, were in vain,
and assuming an air of deep mortification, he waited f