"What you make him for, cap'in?"
"So as to be secure against any red-skins who may happen to long for our scalps."
"Why want your scalp? Hatchet hasn't been dug up, atween us--bury him so deep can't find him in ten, two, six year."
"Ay, it has long been buried, it is true; but you red gentlemen have a trick of digging it up, with great readiness, when there is any occasion for it. I suppose you know, Nick, that there are troubles in the colonies?"
"Tell Nick all about him,"--answered the Indian, evasively--"No read--no hear--don't talk much--talk most wid Irisher--can't understand what he want--say t'ing one way, den say him, anoder."
"Mike is not very lucid of a certainty," rejoined the captain, laughing, all the party joining in the merriment--"but he is a sterling good fellow, and is always to be found, in a time of need."
"Poor rifle--nebber hit--shoot one way, look t'other?"
"He is no great shot, I will admit; but he is a famous fellow with a shillaleh. Has he given you any of the news?"
"All he say, news--much news ten time, as one time. Cap'in lend Nick a quarter dollar, yesterday."
"I did lend you a quarter, certainly, Nick; and I supposed it had gone to the miller for rum, before this. What am I to understand by your holding it out in this manner?--that you mean to repay me!"