Sir Launcelot Greaves | Page 5

was never seen to smile; he was never heard to speak in praise of
any person whatsoever; and he was never known to give a direct
answer to any question that was asked; but seemed, on all occasions, to
be actuated by the most perverse spirit of contradiction.
Captain Crowe, having remarked that it was squally weather, asked
how far it was to the next market town; and understanding that the
distance was not less than six miles, said he had a good mind to come
to an anchor for the night, if so be as he could have a tolerable berth in
this here harbour. Mr. Fillet, perceiving by his style that he was a
seafaring gentleman, observed that their landlady was not used to lodge
such company; and expressed some surprise that he, who had no doubt
endured so many storms and hardships at sea, should think much of
travelling five or six miles a-horseback by moonlight. "For my part,"
said he, "I ride in all weathers, and at all hours, without minding cold,
wet, wind, or darkness. My constitution is so case-hardened that I
believe I could live all the year at Spitzbergen. With respect to this road,
I know every foot of it so exactly, that I'll engage to travel forty miles
upon it blindfold, without making one false step; and if you have faith
enough to put yourselves under my auspices, I will conduct you safe to
an elegant inn, where you will meet with the best accommodation."
"Thank you, brother," replied the captain, "we are much beholden to
you for your courteous offer; but, howsomever, you must not think I
mind foul weather more than my neighbours. I have worked hard aloft
and alow in many a taut gale; but this here is the case, d'ye see; we
have run down a long day's reckoning; our beasts have had a hard spell;
and as for my own hap, brother, I doubt my bottom-planks have lost
some of their sheathing, being as how I a'n't used to that kind of
scrubbing."
The doctor, who had practised aboard a man-of-war in his youth, and

was perfectly well acquainted with the captain's dialect, assured him
that if his bottom was damaged he would new pay it with an excellent
salve, which he always carried about him to guard against such
accidents on the road. But Tom Clarke, who seemed to have cast the
eyes of affection upon the landlady's eldest daughter, Dolly, objected to
their proceeding farther without rest and refreshment, as they had
already travelled fifty miles since morning; and he was sure his uncle
must be fatigued both in mind and body, from vexation, as well as from
hard exercise, to which he had not been accustomed. Fillet then
desisted, saying, he was sorry to find the captain had any cause of
vexation; but he hoped it was not an incurable evil. This expression
was accompanied with a look of curiosity, which Mr. Clarke was glad
of an occasion to gratify; for, as we have hinted above, he was a very
communicative gentleman, and the affair which now lay upon his
stomach interested him nearly.
"I'll assure you, sir," said he, "this here gentleman, Captain Crowe, who
is my mother's own brother, has been cruelly used by some of his
relations. He bears as good a character as any captain of a ship on the
Royal Exchange, and has undergone a variety of hardships at sea. What
d'ye think, now, of his bursting all his sinews, and making his eyes start
out of his head, in pulling his ship off a rock, whereby he saved to his
owners"----Here he was interrupted by the captain, who exclaimed,
"Belay, Tom, belay; pr'ythee, don't veer out such a deal of jaw. Clap a
stopper on thy cable and bring thyself up, my lad--what a deal of stuff
thou has pumped up concerning bursting and starting, and pulling ships;
Laud have mercy upon us!--look ye here, brother--look ye here--mind
these poor crippled joints; two fingers on the starboard, and three on
the larboard hand; crooked, d'ye see, like the knees of a bilander. I'll tell
you what, brother, you seem to be a--ship deep laden--rich
cargo--current setting into the bay--hard gale--lee shore-- all hands in
the boat--tow round the headland--self pulling for dear blood, against
the whole crew--snap go the finger-braces--crack went the eye-blocks.
Bounce daylight--flash starlight--down I foundered, dark as hell--whiz
went my ears, and my head spun like a whirligig. That don't
signify--I'm a Yorkshire boy, as the saying is--all my life at sea, brother,
by reason of an old grandmother and maiden aunt, a couple of old

stinking--kept me these forty years out of my grandfather's estate.
Hearing as how they had taken their departure, came ashore, hired