e old sailor's, and he was
obliged to own that he could see nothing.

'You are more used to looking out for ships than I am,' he said, as he
gave the glass back.

'Ay, sir, I was afloat, boy and man, over fifty year, and good for a
few year more if the "froggies" had left me my leg. They want men with
all their limbs, you see, in these times, though I'm seaworthy yet, I
fancy, and if Boney ever got ashore here, I'd let 'em know I'd my arms
still.'

'And so you've settled down at home here,' said the stranger, throwing
himself down on the short green turf.

'Well, my home ain't just here, sir, so to speak. My folks live
further inland, but now and again I get a longing for a breath o' salt,
and an old messmate of mine here has given me a corner for a bit. For
you see, sir, the old ship's in the Channel now, and one might hear
something of her any day, or maybe see her even; and what's more, the
captain's got our boy with him, you see.'

'Your son, do you mean?'

'No, no, sir, I'm a single man, and this here's a quarter-deck young
gentleman, and will make as fine an officer as any in the service. And
when I said to our Miss Angel that I was thinking of coming down here
for a bit, where I could keep an eye on him, as it might be, I could
see she was pleased. And so here I am and on the look-out, for the
captain might be bringing in a prize any day, none more likely, and
then I'd make a shift to get in to Plymouth and see them both, and
there'd be news for the young ladies. But there, sir, you'll forgive
me running on like this; they say at home Kiah's the one for a yarn if
you've the time to listen; which is my name, sir, Hezekiah Parker, at
your service, Kiah for short, so to say, and my parents thinking it
maybe be presuming to call a bit of a boy the whole name of a Bible
king.'

'Oh, you won't tire me, Kiah,' said the stranger, lying back on the
grass with his arms under his head, while he followed with his eyes the
flight of a lark up into the untroubled blue sky. 'I've not so many
friends to talk to that I get tired of the sound of their voices.'

'You're maybe not from these parts, sir?'

'No, I've been away from England for years,' was the answer. 'I've had
some queer ups and downs, and tried being a prisoner, and come very
near to leaving my bones in foreign parts.'

Kiah touched his hat with increased respect.

'I ask your pardon, sir. I didn't guess as you'd seen service.'

'No, not your