Martha spoke to a sailor who was sitting smoking on an inverted cask.
She “supposed the boats to America went from the Quay, didn’t they now?—or was it from Wooloomooloo?”
But he “supposed there were boats and boats to America. There was sich as the Mariposa, which carried swells and was a fine boat; and sich as the Jenny Lind, which took oil and was not a fine boat!”
[“Do you know] the Isabella?” said Poppet’s little eager voice.
“Captain Brown?—well, I reckon I do, little miss,” he said, and chewed a bit of tobacco thoughtfully. “Bloomin’ old tub! I was on her five year.”
Poppet nearly fell upon him,—she could not wait while he said all he knew about it in his slow roundabout way.
“Is he a cruel man? don’t they have vegetables to eat? do the little boys have to go up the masts? are there weevils in the biscuits? oh! and won’t he let them have their boots on when they swill the decks?”
“‘Do you know the Isabella?’ said Poppet’s little eager voice.”
The Family at Misrule.] [