“The life is not so bad,” said Craggs, “but it's lonely sometimes.”

“Life need never be lonely so long as a man has health and his faculties,” said Billy; “give me nature to admire, a bit of baycon for dinner, and my fiddle to amuse me, and I would n't change with the King of Sugar 'Candy.'”

“I was there,” said Craggs, “it's a fine island.”

“My lord wants to see the doctor,” said a woman, entering hastily.

“And the doctor is ready for him,” said Billy, rising and leaving the kitchen with all the dignity he could assume.

[ [!-- H2 anchor --] ]

CHAPTER III. BILLY TRAYNOR—POET, PEDLAR, AND PHYSICIAN

“Didn't I tell you how it would be?” said Billy, as he re-entered the kitchen, now crowded by the workpeople, anxious for tidings of the sick man. “The head is re-leaved, the congestive symptoms is allayed, and when the artarial excitement subsides, he 'll be out of danger.”

“Musha, but I 'm glad,” muttered one; “he 'd be a great loss to us.”

“True for you, Patsey; there's eight or nine of us here would miss him if he was gone.”