ters, and now I wish for my
horse." "He is not quite ready yet, sir. You said something about oysters
growing on trees, didn't you, sir. I told it to my mother, and she thinks
I did not understand what you said. Will you be good enough to tell me if
they grow in orchards like our apples?" "I have seen thousands, and have
eaten thousands that have grown on trees," said I, "but not in orchards.
The tree that bears them grows close to the water side; its lower branches
dip into it, and are clustered by the shell-fish, which are very small,
and you may swallow a dozen at a mouthful." "Thank you, sir; my mother I
am sure will believe me now. I will desire John to take away. Did you like
our country oysters as well as those in foreign parts?" "They are," said
I, "like you, excellent." "I will see if the horse is ready," said she, as
she dropped a curtsey and quitted the room.

Shortly after up came John to announce my horse being at the door. "Will
you have a pair of master's spurs, sir?" said he. "No, I thank you, my
good fellow," returned I. "Lend me a whip, and I shall be able to manage
without spurs." Behold a sailor on horseback, gentle reader, to the
admiration or astonishment of all the bystanders, of which there were as
many as would man a king's cutter. I kept under moderate sail until I
reached Middle Deal, when my companion brought up all standing at the door
of a decent-looking house, nor could I make him again break ground until a
maidservant opened the door. "Lord," said she, "I thought it was the
baker, sir, for you are on his horse." "That accounts," I said, "for his
halting at your door. I wish, Betty, you would get him once more into
plain sailing." She most kindly took hold of the bridle and led him into
the middle of the street. I now thought myself in the fair way, and I gave
him a stroke with the whip, which I nearly repented, for he kicked up with
his hind legs, and had not I seized the after part of the saddle I should
have gone over his forecastle. I held on until he righted. After this
freak, which was nearly knocking up my cruise, we jogged on steadily until
we came to a narrow street, down which he turned in spite of all my
endeavours to prevent him, and again hove to at the door of another house.

"This turning to windward," thinks I, "will never do. It reminds me of
Commodore Trunnion making a Tom Coxe's traverse to fetch the church."
Whilst I was puzzling my wise noddle what I was to do next, a m