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kipper o' the _Brixham_ knows no such a word as 'can't.' He's comin'. Yew'll see. Hawkins never hauled 'is wind yet where a bit o' the yellow was tow be made. Us'll drink wine in France to-morrow, sure's my name is Scrivings." Dan shook his head. "W'y, yew soft-hearted chap, for tew pins I'd pitch yew ower the cliff." But as "Capting" Scrivings laughed while he spoke, and shook his friend roughly by the shoulder, there was little chance of the terrible threat being fulfilled. "And min' yew, Dan," he added, "if us lands this un all right, us'll be rich, lad--ha! ha! Besides, wot's Hawkins got tow be afear'd of? The _Brixham_ can cut the winkers from the wind's eye, that she can. Tack and 'alf tack though buried in green seas, Dan. Never saw a craft tow sail closer tow a wind. Here's tow bold Hawkins and the brave _Brixham_!" The toast was drunk from a black bottle which the "capting" handed to Dan. "'Ave a pull, chap; yew needs it to brace yewr courage tow the sticking-point." * * * * * Captain Butler prided himself on the seaworthiness and fleetness of his cutter, the saucy little _Moonbeam_. Not that she had been much to look at, or much to sail either, when he took her over; for in those good old times the Admiralty was not a whit more generous with paint and copper nails than it is now. But One-legged Butler was a man of some means, who might have driven his coach on shore had he not been so fond of the brine and the breeze. So he had the _Moonbeam_ seen to at his own expense--not without asking and receiving permission, of course, for he was a strict-service man. Her bows were lengthened and her rig altered and improved; she was made, in fact, quite a model of. And Captain Butler was justly proud of the _Moonbeam_. So highly did he regard her that he would not have marked her smooth and spotless deck with his timber toe to obtain his promotion, and therefore his servant had orders to always keep the end of that useful limb shod with softest leather. Nothing that ever sailed got the weather-gauge on the _Moonbeam_. Except the _Brixham_. That smuggling sloop landed many a fine bale of silk, hogshead of wine, and tobacco galore, all along the south coast; but never had been caught. She was a fly-by-night and a veritable phantom. Thrice Butler had chased her. He might as well have attempted to overhaul a gull on the wing. But to-night One-legged Butler meant
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