human
I am heartily glad of your success, Bowse, I can assure you, said the midshipman warmly;
gpt
I owe you much; for you gave me my first lessons in seamanship, and I shall never forget them. You must come and dine with us to-morrow, and I shall introduce you as my friend, Captain Bowse.
human
No, sir--no, pray don't do so, answered the mariner;
gpt
I've served on board a man-of-war, and I know my place and rank better. Captains of king's ships, if you please, sir,--but masters of merchantmen. I know the difference between a collier and a seventy-four, I think. But I'll dine with your mess, sir, with much pleasure, if I don't go to sea to-morrow.
human
We shall expect you, then, if we see the _Zodiac_ still in the harbour, said Raby.
gpt
I see you've got a spy-glass there, let me take a squint at her. You carry six guns, I observe; and I must say I like the look of your craft.
human
Very necessary, too, in the places to which we trade, answered the master.
gpt
Those Greek chaps among the islands don't scruple to plunder any vessels they may find unarmed, particularly in these times; but the truth is, two of those are quakers--their look is much worse than their bite. However, between this and Cephalonia there's no danger.
human
Why, you know, if any pirates attacked you, and were caught, you'd have the satisfaction of having them strung up by King Tom, like those chaps yonder, said Raby.
gpt
By the bye, Duff, did you ever observe King Tom's Rubber of Whist?
human
No, answered Duff.
gpt
What do you mean?
human
Take that glass, and look at the outer bastion of Port Ricasoli. What do you see there?
gpt
Four figures, which are hanging by their necks from gibbets, answered Duff.
human
What are they?
gpt
Those are four Englishmen,--at least, one, by the way, was a Yankee, their master,--who turned pirates, and tried to scuttle another English brig, and to drown the people. It's too long a story to tell you now. But old King Tom got hold of them, and treated them as you see.
human
That fellow, Delano, the Yankee master, was a terrible villain, observed Captain Bowse, shuddering.
gpt
It was not the first black deed of the sort he had done, either. One doesn't know what punishment is bad enough for such scoundrels. It's a hundredfold worse when such-like acts are done by our countrymen, than when Greeks or Moors do them, because one does not expect anything better from their hands. But I see, sir, you are casting an eye at one of those strange-looking native crafts standing in for the land with the sea breeze.