"Shet up, you piratin' cuss, you; shet up, or I'll give you a settler!" was the reply.
"Shet up, you piratin' cuss you; shet up or I'll give you a settler!—[Page 305.]
"Well, really, you are accommodating," cavalierly replied the but little daunted captive. "One thing consoling I glean, my virtuous friend, from your scraps of information—you are not a pirate yourself, or in favor of that science! But I should like to know, old fellow, where I am, and what the deuce I'm here for."
"Well, you'll soon diskiver the perticklers, for here comes the Court, and they'll have you dancin' on nothin' and kickin' at the wind, pooty soon; you kin stake your pile on that!"
And with this, a hum was heard, and soon a mob of a dozen well-stimulated citizens, and strangers about the Point, came rushing and yelling on to the wharf-boat and were quite as immediately gathered around the captive. The first impulse of the posse comitatus appeared to manifest itself in a desire to hang the victim—straight up! A second (how sober we know not) thought induced them to ask a question or two, and for this purpose the presiding judge drew up before the still prostrate captive, and said—
"Who are you? What have you got to say for yourself, anyhow?"
The sunburnt, ragged, and rather romantic-looking prisoner turned his face towards the judge, and replied—
"I have nothing of consequence to say, neighbor. I would like to know, however, what all this means!"
"Where's your crew, you villain?" said the judge.