put it on she rose from the bed, the
fractured state of which again called forth her indignation.

"Thirty-two years have I had this bed, wedded and single, Babette!"
exclaimed the widow. "For sixteen years did I sleep on that bed with
the lamented Mr Vandersloosh--for sixteen years have I slept in it, a
lone widow--but never till now did it break down. How am I to sleep
to-night? What am I to do, Babette?"

"'Twas well it did break down, ma'am," replied Babette, who was
smoothing down the jagged skin at her ankles; "or we should never have
got the nasty biting brute out of the house."

"Very well--very well. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken--marriage, indeed,
I'd as soon marry his cur."

"Mein Gott!" exclaimed Babette. "I think, madam, if you did marry, you
would soon find the master as cross as the dog; but I must make this
bed."

Babette proceeded to examine the mischief, and found that it was only
the cords which tied the sacking which had given way, and considering
that they had done their office for thirty-two years and the strain
which had been put upon them after so long a period, there was not munch
to complain of. A new cord was procured, and, in a quarter of an hour,
all was right again; and the widow, who had sat in the chair fuming and
blowing off her steam, as soon as Babette had turned down the bed turned
in again, muttering, "Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken--marriage indeed.
Well, well, we shall see. Stop till to-morrow, Mr Vanslyperken;" and
as Babette has closed the curtains, so will we close this chapter.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

IN WHICH RESOLUTIONS ARE ENTERED INTO IN ALL QUARTERS, AND JEMMY DUCKS
IS ACCUSED OF MUTINY FOR SINGING A SONG IN A SNOW-STORM.

What were the adventures of Snarleyyow after this awkward interference
with his master's speculations upon the widow, until he jumped into the
beef boat to go on board of the cutter, are lost for ever; but it is to
be supposed that he could not have remained the whole night without
making himself disagreeable in some quarter or another. But, as we
before observed, we know nothing about it; and, therefore, may be
excused if we do not tell.

The widow Vandersloosh slept but little that night: her soul was full of
vengeance; but although smarting with the imprints of the our's teeth,
still she had an eye to business; the Custom of the crew of the cutter
was not to be despised, and, as she thought of this, she gradually
cooled down. It was not till