After drinking a tumbler of grog he appeared to recover
rapidly; and we found on inquiry that he was master of the vessel just
wrecked on the coast. He shook his head on a further inquiry as to the
fate of her crew. "A score as good hands," said he, "are gone to the
bottom as ever unreefed a clean topsail or hung out a ship's canvas to
the wind; I saw them all go down as I lashed myself to the jib." He
groaned deeply; but speedily assuming a gayer tone, requested a quid and
a quiet hammock. "My lights are nearly stove in,--my head hangs as loose
as a Dutchman's shrouds; a night's sleep will make all taut again."
Old Bridget was gone to bed; and unless the sailor chose to occupy the
straw pallet already in the possession of a guest whose mysterious
arrival seemed to be the forerunner of nothing but confusion and
disaster, there did not seem any chance of obtaining a berth save by
remaining in his present situation. I told him of the dilemma, but Kate
replied:--"We can just take the body fro' the bed; it winna tak' harm
upo' the chest i' the fur nook. The captain will not maybe sleep the
waur for quiet company.
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