human
She don't look like a queen,
gpt
Did you expect to see her with her crown and coronation robes on, and with the sceptre in her hand?
human
Not exactly; but I was not prepared to see a lady so much like any well-dressed woman we meet in the street.
gpt
Let me see, said Mr. Mapps, glancing at the shore, intent upon renewing his favorite topic,
human
Fort St. Laurent must have been here; and this is where Van Speyk went down, or rather went up.
gpt
Who was Van Speyk?
human
He was the commander of a Dutch gunboat, in the revolution of 1830. His vessel wouldn't come about--what do you call it?
gpt
Missed stays, sir,
human
Missed stays, and got aground right under the guns of the fort. He was ordered to surrender, but refused to do so, though there was not the least chance for him to make a successful resistance. He was determined that the rebels should not have his vessel, and, rushing down into the powder-magazine, he said his prayers, and coolly laid his lighted cigar on an open barrel of powder. An explosion followed which shook the whole city. Twenty-eight, out of thirty-one on board, including the heroic captain, were killed--blown up into the air. A monument to his memory was erected by the side of that of De Ruiter, and the government pledged itself that a vessel in the Dutch navy should always bear the name of Van Speyk.
gpt
He was a good fellow,
human
I say, Perth, I've been a good boy for more than a week, and I begin to be ashamed of myself for my want of activity, said Wilton, who had seated himself on the bowsprit-cap, while his companion was reclining on the flying jib.
gpt
I shall spoil if there is not something going on soon.
human
We'll go on that cruise in the Josephine just as soon as we can bring things round right,
gpt
It's no use to think of that while we are moored fifty or a hundred miles from the sea,
human
Of course not. Rotterdam is away up the river, with a bar at its mouth having only seven feet of water on it at low tide. You must go over that, or by the canal, which runs through an island. Do you know where we go next?
gpt
I heard some of the fellows say we were going to the southward soon.
human
If that's so I should suppose we shall go into Dieppe or Havre,
gpt
I heard Havre mentioned. How will that suit?
human
First rate!