tes_
what they call a Father Confessor, _n'est-ce pas_? Devilish good idea.
A privateer with a parson! What's your pay, mounseer?--a tenth, of
course. Little enough too for looking after the souls of such a set of
damned rascals. Well mounseer, _vous etes prisonnier_, without benefit
of clergy; so hop into that boat. Why, confound it, here's another!"
continued Jerry, as a second made his appearance. "He's the clerk, of
course, as he follows the parson. Come, Mont' Arrivo Jack! What a
cock-eye the rascal has!"

During this elegant harangue, which was certainly meant for his own
amusement more than for their edification, as Jerry had no idea but that
they were belonging to the privateer, and of course could not comprehend
him, both the parties looked at him, and at each other, with
astonishment, until the first who had appeared addressed the latter
with, "I say, Paul, did you ever see such a thing before? Damn it, why
he's like a sixpenny fife,--more noise than substance."

Jerry at once perceived his mistake, and recollected that the master of
the vessel which they had boarded had mentioned that two English
merchants had been taken out of her by the privateer, with the hopes of
ransom; but, nettled with the remark which had been made, he retorted
with--

"Well, I'd recommend you not to attempt to play upon me, that's all."

"No, I don't mean, for I should only make you squeak."

"You are the two gentlemen who were detained by the privateer, I
presume," said Pearce, the master, who had come on board to superintend
the necessary arrangements previous to her being sent in.

"We are, sir, and must introduce ourselves. My name is Mr Peter
Capon--that of my friend, designated by that young gentleman as
Cock-eye, is Mr Paul Contract. Will you oblige us with a boat to go on
board of the frigate, that we may speak to the captain?"

"Most certainly. Jump into the first cutter there. I am sorry you have
been so unpleasantly situated, gentlemen. Why did not you come on deck
before?"

Peter did not state the real ground, which was to secure their property,
which was below, from being plundered by the privateer's crew; but,
wishing to pay off Jerry for his impertinence, replied--

"Why, we did look up the hatchway several times, but there was something
so awful, and, I may say, so un-English-like, in the appearance of that
officer, with his drawn sword, that we were afraid; we could not imagine
into whose han