four o'clock in the morning that she came
to her decision; and it was a very prudent one, which was to demand the
dead body of the dog to be laid at her door before Mr Vanslyperken
should be allowed admittance. This was her right, and if he was
sincere, he would not refuse; if he did refuse, it was not at all clear
that she should lose the custom of the seamen, over the major part of
whom Vanslyperken then appeared to have very little control; and all of
whom, she knew, detested him most cordially, as well as his dog. After
which resolution the widow Vandersloosh fell fast asleep.

But we must return on board, where there was almost as much confusion as
there had been on shore. The reappearance of Snarleyyow was considered
supernatural, for Smallbones had distinctly told in what manner he had
tied him up in the bread-bags, and thrown him into the canal.
Whisperings and murmurings were heard all round the cutter's decks.
Obadiah Coble shrugged up his shoulders, as he took an extra quid.--Dick
Short walked about with lips compressed, more taciturn than ever--Jansen
shook his head, muttering, "Te tog is no tog."--Bill Spurey had to
repeat to the ship's company the legend of his coming on board over and
over again. The only persons who appeared not to have lost their
courage were Jemmy Ducks and poor Smallbones, who had been put in his
hammock to recover him from his refrigeration. The former said, "that
if they were to sail with the devil, it could not be helped, pay and
prize-money would still go on;" and the latter, who had quite recovered
his self-possession, "vowed that dog or devil, he would never cease his
attempts to destroy him--if he was the devil, or one of his imps, it was
his duty as a Christian to oppose him, and he had no chance of better
treatment if he were to remain quiet." The snow-storm continued, and
the men remained below, all but Jemmy Ducks, who leaned against the lee
side of the cutter's mast, and as the snow fell, sang, to a slow air,
the following ditty, it probably being called to his recollection by the
state of the weather.

'Twas at the landing-place that's just below Mount Wyse,
Poll lean'd against the sentry's box, a tear in both her eyes;
Her apron twisted round her arms, all for to keep them warm,
Being a windy Christmas-day, and also a snow-storm.

And Bet and Sue
Both stood there too,
A shivering by her side,
They both were dumb,
And both look'd glum,
As