nce was the interest which he really felt
perceptible.

When they reached the inn, they found an unusual number of persons
there collected. Here were to be found not only the captains and
inferior officers of the vessels, who, while in harbor, were
accustomed to make this a place of resort, but divers colonists from
the country round, who, upon the requisition of the Governor, had
assembled, provided with military equipments. The heart of the
landlord, goodman Nettles, rejoiced, and his contradictory face beamed
with pleasure, as, surveying the increasing crowd, he calculated what
quantity of ale and wine and victuals they would put down their
throats, and how many pounds, shillings, and pence, into his own
pocket. On such occasions the large circle of his benevolence
comprehended all mankind--Indians as well as whites. As the two
entered the public room of the inn, they heard rising above the
confused din of voices, that of Captain Sparhawk, who seemed objecting
to the preparations.

"If they were good Christians," he said, "the sail would fit better to
the yard. If they were even your frog-eating mounseers, with their
popery and d----d wooden shoes, ('I hope,' he added, 'a man may curse
the Pope,') I wouldn't care about touching off a culverin or two by
way of good fellowship; but as for these whopping red skins, it will
all be no better than so much powder thrown away."

"Canst not let the Indians alone, Captain?" cried mine host. "Ahem!
for my part I believe there's many a proper man among them, though
'tis a grievous pity," he added, sighing, "that they be'nt
Christians."

"Avast, and belay there with a double turn, goodman host," exclaimed
the Captain. "Of what use do ye think would it be to make the red
skins Christians? Keep your weather eye open, and tell us if ye don't
see breakers ahead. Hark ye! do ye think it would be so very pleasant
to have the sharks swim into heaven and go jumping and yelling round
like so many red devils as they are?"

"But, Captain, if divine grace once entered their hearts, they would
give up all such ways, you know," sighed the host.

"Tell that to a landsman," answered the Captain, "and not to a man who
was with Jacob Le Maire the first time when them harricanes that
dances the devil's hornpipe the whole year round Cape Horn ever had a
chance to split an English jib. (Old Jacob--the Dutch, do ye see, the
ignorant beggars, capsize it into Yacob),--old Jacob, or Yacob, as the