flaring in the breeze at the door, one of the panes of the glass of it
being broken.

Before I entered, Mr Treenail took me to one side--"Tom, Tom Cringle, you
must go into this crimp shop; pass yourself off for an apprentice of the
Guava, bound for Trinidad, the ship that arrived just as we started, and
pick up all the knowledge you can regarding the whereabouts of the men, for
we are, as you know, cruelly ill manned, and must replenish as we best
may." I entered the house, after having agreed to rejoin my superior
officer, so soon as I considered I had obtained my object. I rapped at the
inner door, in which there was a small unglazed aperture cut, about four
inches square; and I now, for the first time, perceived that a strong glare
of light was cast into the lobby, where I stood, by a large argand with a
brilliant reflector, that like a magazine lantern had been mortised into
the bulkhead, at a height of about two feet above the door in which the
spy--hole was cut. My first signal was not attended to; I rapped again,
and looking round I noticed Mr Treenail flitting backwards and forwards
across the doorway, in the rain with his pale face and his sharp nose, with
the sparkling drop at the end on't, glancing in the light of the lamp. I
heard a step within, and a very pretty face now appeared at the wicket.

"Who are you saking here, an' please ye?"

"No one in particular, my dear; but if you don't let me in, I shall be
lodged in jail before five minutes be over."

"I can't help that, young man," said she; "but where are ye from, darling?"

"Hush!--I am run from the Guava, now lying at the Cove."