“Yes, sir; cow-paths, cut by sheep-walks, and intersected with hen-tracks.”
“When did we fire the first gun?”
“Well, sir, just as we were leaving Falmouth, ten months ago—signal-gun, sir.”
“Where did we fire the first shotted gun, sir?—and what was the name of the privateer we took upon that occasion?”
“’Pears to me, sir, at that time I was on the sick list. Yes, sir, that must have been the time; I had the brain fever, and lost my mind for a while.”
“Master-at-arms, take this man away.”
“Where shall I take him, sir?” touching his cap.
“Go, and air him on the forecastle.”
So they resumed their devious wanderings. At last, they descended to the berth-deck. It being now breakfast-time, the master-at-arms, a good-humored man, very kindly’ introduced our hero to his mess, and presented him with breakfast, during which he in vain endeavored, by all sorts of subtle blandishments, to worm out his secret.
At length Israel was set at liberty; and whenever there was any important duty to be done, volunteered to it with such cheerful alacrity, and approved himself so docile and excellent a seaman, that he conciliated the approbation of all the officers, as well as the captain; while his general sociability served, in the end, to turn in his favor the suspicious hearts of the mariners. Perceiving his good qualities, both as a sailor and man, the captain of the maintop applied for his admission into that section of the ship; where, still improving upon his former reputation, our hero did duty for the residue of the voyage.