"No," said his sister.
"So much the better; we will put away the swag before he sees it; leastways, if he can be kept from knowing about it."
"What! Are you afraid of him, you coward?" asked Calabash, provokingly.
Nicholas shrugged his shoulders significantly; then replied:
"Afraid of him? No, I should rather think not! But I have a strong suspicion he means to sell us,—that is my only fear; as for any other sort of dread, my weazen-slicer (knife) has rather too keen an edge for that!"
"Ah, when he is not here, you are full of boast and brag; but only let him show his face, and you are quiet as a mouse!"
This reproach seemed quite thrown away upon Nicholas, who, affecting not to have heard it, exclaimed:
"Come, come! Let's unload the boat at once. Where is François, mother? He could help us a good deal."
"Mother has locked him up, after having preciously flogged him; and, I can tell you, he will have to go to bed without any supper."
"Well and good as far as that goes; but still, he might lend a hand in unloading the boat,—eh, mother? Because, then myself and Calabash could fetch all in at once."