PREPARATIONS FOR MULLET-FISHING. 75 



he Benched me ; and it cost me a cool hundred before 

 I got clear of the Honourable Justices. * A plague 

 upon all cowards ! ' as honest Jack says." 



" But, Julius, who was that wild and melancholy 

 man to whose guidance you entrusted me in the island ? " 



" Oh, Hennessey, my foster-brother ! Poor fellow, 

 he has been rather unlucky ! " 



" Unlucky ? " 



" Why, yes — ^he hit a fellow a little too hard, and 

 finished him. He is keeping close until the assizes are 

 over, and then he will have time to settle with the 

 friends. It would not signify a farthing, had he not 

 been in two or three scrapes before." 



" Has he been always riotous ? " 



" Oh, no, quite the contrary. When sober, he is 

 the civilest creature on earth. No, poor fellow! they 

 were only two homicides, and an abduction." 



" And do you countenance and shelter such a charac- 

 ter ? " 



" What ! abandon my own foster-brother for an accident 

 or two ? — Pshaw, Frank, you jest. I'll tell you the 

 particulars another time." 



It was late, and we separated. 



