Part 17 (1/2)

”Toney told him how he had been paid off and had pretty well e that before long he must join another craft

”'That's just what I was a thinking of too, so just step in here, lass or two,' and he pointed to the door of a public-house which stood tely open to entice passers-by

”Toney was not one of those chaps to get drunk on every occasion, but he had no objection to good liquor when it ca to pay for what he had, he went in with Joe Joe boasted of a craft he had served aboard--a privateer, he called her She had taken no end of prizes, and had made every one on board her as rich as Jews, only somehow or other they didn't keep their money as well as Jews did, 'and that's the reason why o,' observed Joe Toney, as a steady sort of a ave of the 'Viper's' cruise Joe was talking about

”'Why, to my mind, she's no better than a bloodthirsty pirate,' he said

”Joe laughed 'You're too particular, mate,' said he ''Tain't no worse than many another crew afloat'

”However, he didn't press the point any longer, but elass, called upon Toney to drink up his, and ordered more and more liquor in, when Toney said he would not take another drop At last Toney didn't knohat happened except that he found hi off from his seat on to the sandy floor, and could not, for the life of hio to sleep where he was, so he coiled himself away to have a snooze When he woke he tried to recollect what had happened

”He re with Joe Gubbins, and that he soot down on the floor, so he felt about, thinking he was there still But all was dark; and instead of a sandy floor and the legs of the tables and chairs, his hand touched only soh as he could, and found that there was a deck close above hiainst a bulkhead He knew then that he must be on board a craft of so; and as he was still only half awake, he thought he ain

”When he roused up a second ti to the heave of the sea He had been too long afloat not to know that she was h the water with a fresh breeze As he was getting soer down in the hold He thought it was ti out and let those on board knohere he was Having a good pair of lungs of his own, he shouted pretty lustily, but no one came near him, nor hailed him

”'This seems a curious job,' he said to hioods and hove o?'

”Presently he heard the sound of a gun fired overhead; right aft, he judged, for he kneell enough by theThen another, and another followed; then cah he heard it but faintly dohere he was The guns again went off He guessed that the craft he was on board of was being chased, and that the cheer was given because the crew had knocked away some of the enemy's spars He could hear two or three shots strike the hull of the vessel, so he knew that they were not having the ga, he wished that he was on deck to take his share in it There was no use wishi+ng without trying to get out, but whichever way he h he kicked with all his ain, till every ive it up His tean to think whether it was Joe Gubbins that had brought him aboard, for he didn't come of his own accord, of that he was certain He vowed that he would pay Joe off whenever he fell in with hi through every plank and ti as , and he could not tell whether she had got away altogether, or was still trying to escape fro enemy He tried to fancy why he was kept down there all this tiht hi's shi+p or a privateer, but that she was not a merchantman he was pretty sure Perhaps, if she was achased by a French froate than any other Still it was not likely that a pirate would venture into Plymouth Sound

”In either case Toney didn't relish the thoughts of being captured In one there would be a French prison in store for him, and in the other a ht aboard against his will, and would declare that he had stowed hian to fear he should be starved to death He tried another shout His voice didn't reach those on deck He knew by this ti better to do, he was going off to sleep when he heard a bolt withdrawn froht streaing up and knocking his head against the deck above hi to see how you're getting on, h,' said Toney, 'I' shut up down here Who are you?'

”'I've been sent down here to ask if you'll, like a wise man, join this craft She wants hands, and as you're well-known to be a good seaood berth aboard'

”'I never join a craft unless I knohat sort of a captain andto have,' said Toney

”'There are times when a man mustn't be over particular,' said his visitor 'You're a fool if you don't say yes, so just con articles You'll learn all about this craft afterwards'

”'No, no,' said Toney; 'I never buy a pig in a poke Tell me what?

Want to know, then I'll tell you whether I'll join or not'

”'You'll join, whether you like it or not,' said his visitor with a growl 'You've chosen to come aboard, and we don't allow idlers'

”'I didn't choose to coht me aboard when I was obfuscated, I suppose, and I'll have a reckoning with that so'

”'If that's your notion you'll stay where you are,' said his visitor, and he slammed the door and bolted it

”Toney was a deter he couldn't stand, and that was hunger He got worse and worse He could not sleep, and he could not shout out By the tiain he was asto join or are you not?' was the question