uld know her among ten thousand!--a sweet shear, a sweet boat! But
marry come up, my gossip, will ye drink? I have come into mine estate
which doubtless ye remember to have heard on. I am now rich; I have left
to sail upon the sea; I do sail now, for the most part, upon spiced ale.
Come, fellow; thy hand upon't! Come, drink with an old shipfellow!"

Skipper Arblaster, a long-faced, elderly, weather-beaten man, with a
knife hanging about his neck by a plaited cord, and for all the world
like any modern seaman in his gait and bearing, had hung back in obvious
amazement and distrust. But the name of an estate, and a certain air of
tipsified simplicity and good-fellowship which Lawless very well
affected, combined to conquer his suspicious jealousy; his countenance
relaxed, and he at once extended his open hand and squeezed that of the
outlaw in a formidable grasp.

"Nay," he said, "I cannot mind you. But what o' that? I would drink with
any man, gossip, and so would my man Tom. Man Tom," he added, addressing
his follower, "here is my gossip, whose name I cannot mind, but no doubt
a very good seaman. Let's go drink with him and his shore friend."

Lawless led the way, and they were soon seated in an alehouse, which, as
it was very new, and stood in an exposed and solitary station, was less
crowded than those nearer to the centre of the port. It was but a shed
of timber, much like a blockhouse in the backwoods of to-day, and was
coarsely furnished with a press or two, a number of naked benches, and
boards set upon barrels to play the part of tables. In the middle, and
besieged by half a hundred violent draughts, a fire of wreck-wood blazed
and vomited thick smoke.

"Ay, now," said Lawless, "here is a shipman's joy--a good fire and a
good stiff cup ashore, with foul weather without and an off-sea gale
a-snoring in the roof! Here's to the _Good Hope_! May she ride easy!"

"Ay," said Skipper Arblaster, "'tis good weather to be ashore in, that
is sooth. Man Tom, how say ye to that? Gossip, ye speak well, though I
can never think upon your name; but ye speak very well. May the _Good
Hope_ ride easy! Amen!"

"Friend Dickon," resumed Lawless, addressing his commander, "ye have
certain matters on hand, unless I err? Well, prithee be about them
incontinently. For here I be with the choice of all good company, two
tough old shipmen; and till that ye return I will go warrant these brave
fellows will bide here and drink me cup for