492 KATE FIFLE. 



high, or blow low, I don't care. I've got plenty of shot in the 

 locker, and a good appointment into the bargain : loads of tin about 

 me, and more where this corned from. All our breezes and battles 

 are over now, Kate, and I 've come home again to marry ye.* 



" Marry me ! ' says she' marry me ! bless the man's impudence ! 

 My dear Mr. Whiiflenhimper, I takes my affidavy, I never seed he 

 feller afore.' 



" * Go about your business directly, you tar- plastered, beefy- 

 cheeked, rope-hauling, yo-ho-ing son of a swabbing-mop,' says the 

 old fellow. ' I '11 teach you to insult my wife in this here impertinent 

 manner, that *s what I will.' 

 " ' Your wife? 1 says I. 

 " My wife ! ' says he. 

 " * In arnest?' says I. 

 " * In arnest 1 ' says he. 

 " ' Gammon !' says I. 

 ' 'T'aint !' says he. 



" ' D n ye both then,' says I, ' that's all ;' but directly I said 

 it, the old chap started up in a towering passion, and swore he'd 

 make me brush. ' Be off with you, quietly,' says he, and he 

 looked as white as a 'bacco-pipe all the while, ' or I '11 send for a 

 constable, and I '11 charge you with a housebreaking.' 

 " ' I shan't stir a peg,' says I. 



" ' Sha'n't ye !' says he ; * ay ! ay ! we'll soon see that. Kate, 

 clap on your bonnet, and -run for a constable.' 



" ' Take that, you tarnation lubber,' says I, ' while he's a coming/ 

 and I run'd slap at him, and boarded him, afore he had time to cry 

 out, or get under the table. Well, we had a reg'lar set-to, yawing 

 and pitching about like the very devil, to discharge our broadsides, 

 and pouring in from the tops showers of small shot from the jaw- 

 lockers, till he was glad to get to his close quarters, and sing out 

 peccavi. But the action war'n't over yet, for Kate set up a scream, 

 and shot up alongside on me, letting out in right down reg'lar man- 

 of-war fashion, and boarding me on the quarter. Atween the two 

 my rigging and upper works com'd in for a benefit ; but luckily I 

 got athwart the old fellow, and raked him beautiful, fetching out 

 now and then a longer shot at his consort. In a heavy lurch, down 

 went the glims, and the place was left as dark as the deuce :. at last 

 I contrived to get the free use o' my hands, and knocked somebody 

 down ; I don't know who it was, but directly I found I had dis- 

 masted them, and that they were unfit for future sarvice, I bolted 

 out o' the door like a cannon-shot, and run'd along the streets as fast 

 as if the devil was behind me; got down to the shore, jumped into a 

 row-boat what I found there belayed to a timber head, and pulled off 

 to the Seizer, then riding snug at anchor about a mile off the Break- 

 water. That was the last time that I've been at Plymouth, and 

 blow me if I ever ask a pretty wench to marry me again while these 

 old timbers stick together." 



BILL ROGERS, 



Late H. M. S. Firefly. 



