hom the brook oweth his waters. Thank
that incomparable paragon, that consummate swan, that pearl of all
perfection, my mistress, of whose brightness I am but the mirror and
medium."

"Pardon me, sir," said I, feeling very foolish to comprehend not a word
of his fine talk, "if you have anything to tell me, pray, say so; but,
for the life of me, I cannot discover what you mean by all this."

"I mean," said he, "that she, my lady, the Aphrodite who rules these
waves, the star who guides our course, the nymph who suns her locks on
this poor ship, the same condescends to call you her servant; wherefore,
owe it to her, that thou mayest also call me thy master."

I began to weary of this jargon. Moreover, the fellow now seemed to be
talking about matters which he had better leave to Ludar and me. So I
said:

"You are none of my master. I have a better."

He looked a little hurt at this, I thought, and said:

"Can an ass call the horse its master when a man claimeth both? Who is
this mortal, sirrah, that I may scorn him?"

"This gentleman is my master," said I, growing very hot, and laying my
hand on Ludar's arm.

The gallant laughed.

"Pretty, on my life! The dog hath its parasites, the scullion his
menial, the earthen pot his mug, and each puffeth himself into a
gentleman thereby. And who may you be, forsooth?"

"Ludar McSomhairle Buidhe McDonnell of the Glyns," said Ludar, solemnly.

The fellow laughed outright.

"I do remember," said he, "a pretty jest of Dan Aesopus about a jackdaw
who thought himself a peacock because he had a monstrous long feather to
his tail. Prithee, thou silly son of Neptune, knowest thou not that if
I did bid thee carry me my box from the fore-deck there to the poop,
thou must crawl with it like my jack-porter? And, by my soul, I have
named the very service that brought me hither. Therefore, my lord Sir
Ludar McSorley Boy McNeptune McMalapert McDonnell of the Glyns, fetch my
box below. And should the burden be too heavy for thy dainty fingers,
pray thy serving gentleman here to lend thee a hand."

Ludar, who was leaning against the mast, yawned; whereat, the gallant
dropping his fine speeches, turned as red as a lobster, and with a loud
French oath, drew out his rapier and flourished it.

Ludar watched him contemptuously for a while, until the blade, getting
courage at every pass, ventured a modest prick. Then he leapt out like
a cat on a mouse, and caught the silly fel