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