ever heard the name."

"Well, come," cried he, laughing, "that is consolatory. I 'm not half so
great a reprobate as I thought myself! I did not believe till now that
there was an urchin of your stamp living who could not have furnished at
least some anecdotes for a memoir of me! Well, my lad, yonder, where
you see the blue light at the peak, is the 'Firefly,' and here, where
I sit, is Sir Dudley Broughton. Ten minutes more will put us alongside,
so, if you're not tired, pull away."

"No, Sir Dudley," said I, for I was well versed in the popular tact of
catching up a name quickly, "I am able to row twice as far."

"And now, Master Con," said he, "we are going to part. Are you too young
a disciple of your craft for a glass of grog; or are you a follower of
that new-fangled notion of pale-faced politicians, who like bad coffee
and reason better than whiskey and fun?"

"I'll take nothing to drink, Sir Dudley," said I. "I have dined and
drunk well to-day, and I'll not venture further."

"As you please; only I say you 're wrong not to victual the ship
whenever you stand in-shore. No matter; put your hand into this vest
pocket,--you 'll find some shillings there: take them, whatever they be.
You'll row the boat back with one of my people; and all I have to say
is, if you do speak of me, as no doubt you will and must, don't say
anything about these smashed fingers; I suppose they'll get right one of
these days, and I 'd rather there was no gossip about them."

"I 'll never speak of it--I--"

"There, now, that's enough; no swearing, or I know you'll break your
promise. Back water a little; pull the starboard oar,--so; here we are
alongside."

Sir Dudley had scarce done speaking when a hoarse voice from the yacht
challenged us. This was replied to by a terrific volley of imprecations
on the stupidity of not sooner showing the light, amid which Sir Dudley
ascended the side and stood upon the deck. "Where's Halkett?" cried
he, imperiously. "Here, sir," replied a short, thickset man, with a
sailor-like shuffle in his walk. "Send one of the men back with the
gig, and land that boy. Tell the fellow, too, he's not to fetch Waters
aboard, if he meets him: the scoundrel went off and left me to my fate
this evening; and it might have been no pleasant one, if I had not found
that lad yonder."

"We have all Sam Waters' kit on board, Sir Dudley," said Halkett; "shall
we send it ashore?"

"No. Tell him I'll leave it at Demerara f