THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERD. 409 



last me six months, and expect you won't ask me for another yarn 

 for that time." 



" Ah ! I dare say that won't do, Jack ; we must have another 

 to-morrow night." 



" I'll be d d if you do/' said Jack. 



" But, Jack/' said Will Gibbon, " that Captain Clifford was a fine 

 feller ; he behaved well to you about those pirates, and I think you 

 were quite right to tell him all about it." 



" You may say that, lad, when you write home. Never was a 

 braver or a better feller in the navy ; but I must go, my bo's ; the 

 hammocks will be piped down directly, and I dare say you are all 

 heartily tired of hearing me gabber away at the rate o' nine knots an 

 hour." 



" Not a bit, lad; we'd rather hear you for three hours on a bowline; 

 you tell a plain story without any hard words, not going on like the 

 sarjeant with a parcel o' lingo that a feller can't tell the stem from the 

 starn on." 



A great deal more of this sort of conversation went on ; but as the 

 yarn had been a long one, and my cigar was finished, I did not re- 

 main. Jack is fond of a little gossip, which he dignifies by the name 

 of "a hargyment," and seldom quits it till the boatswain's pipe 

 summons him to some employment. I remained long enough to hear 

 Jack say, perhaps he'd pitch it into 'em again to-morrow. Satisfied 

 that there would be no more yarns that night, I went on deck, 

 whither the boatswain's pipe of down all hammocks soon called my 

 yarning friends. 



THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERD. 



FROM THE SPANISH OF YRIARTE. 



A WOLF once came a shepherd nigh ; 

 " My friend," he said, " I know not why 

 Your most uncharitable spirit 

 Treats me with hate I do not merit. 

 What warmth my skin in cold ensures ! 

 A thousand human pains it cures ; 

 Besides that fleas, and insects vile 

 Will never touch it or defile. 

 My claws the badger's far outprize 

 In curing weakness of the eyes ; 

 My teeth you know the use of them, 

 Nor will my healing grease contemn." 

 " Beast that thou art," the shepherd said, 

 " The curse of heav'ri be on thy head ! 

 Full as thou art ofev'ry evil, 

 What serves thy little good ?" The devil 

 Take all the wolves of books, I say, 

 That prowl about the town to-day ! 



