that's a foundation
for 'ee--there, cut 'im up an' fire away; ye can't listen properly to me
discoorse till you git yer jaws to work. This here is a pie o' some
sort, I shud say, havin' regard to the shape, only that ain't the sort
o' wittles a Jew would send 'ee, is it? P'raps it's wild-boar, for I've
seed no end o' them critters in the market. Maybe it's lion, for they
do says there's lots o' the king o' beasts in the mountains hereabouts,
though I can't say I've heerd 'em roar yet. Hows'ever, wotever it is,
here it is, so go ahead.--Hallo!" exclaimed Flaggan remonstratively, as
he cast a glance at the sleeping man beside him, "you've begun without
the ould man. Don't 'ee think it 'ud be but filial-like to wake him up
an' start fair?"

"No, we'll let him sleep on," answered Lucien, as he began to eat with
right good-will, in which he was ably seconded by his brother. "My
father needs rest quite as much as food at present. He shall eat when
he awakes."

"Well, you knows best," returned the seaman, taking out his pipe and
tobacco-pouch; "it's wan comfort anyhow that the wittles can't get
colder than they be now, and there's overmuch for 'ee to ait the whole
consarn at one bout, so the ould man'll git his grub, though I must own
it'd have liked to have seed 'im start fair.--Hand over the glim,
plaise."

Lucien passed the small lantern to Flaggan, whose hard good-humoured
features were for a few seconds suffused with a ruddy glow as he put the
light close to it, and drew the flame vigorously into the bowl of his
very black little pipe. Then, setting it down beside him, he smoked in
silence and in much satisfaction, as he contemplated the hearty manner
in which the young men enjoyed their meal.

When he had finished, Lucien bowed his head for a few seconds in silent
thanksgiving, and Mariano paused respectfully while he did so. Then,
taking a long draught from the earthenware bottle; the elder brother
expressed his gratitude to the Jew for the opportune relief.

"That seems to be good stuff to judge be the way ye smacked yer lips,"
observed Ted, removing his pipe and wiping his mouth with the sleeve of
his coat.

"Try it," said Lucien, handing him the bottle with a smile.

"Got no smell," remarked the tar, as he put the bottle to his
mouth--"wather!" he added contemptuously, as he put it down and resumed
the pipe.

"The best of drink for man and beast," said Lucien, laughing.

"May be so," returned Fla