"Well as I know good Robert Barton."
"Then ye ken the twa best men that ever sailed on salt water—except——"
"The king?"
"Ay, the king, of course," said Wad, touching his bonnet.
Borthwick, who always trembled at that name, now said hastily—
"Are you a king's man?"
"Ye donnart fule! am I not the gunner o' a king's ship?" said the seaman, who was rather pugnaciously inclined, and began to clench his hands; "you, who were ashore, fought for the king, I hope?"
"Bravely," said Borthwick, in whose throat the word almost stuck.
"Had you fought against him, I had brained you on the first timber-head!" hiccuped Wad, making one or two blows in the air.
"Tib Tarvet, the alewife's booth, is close by," said Borthwick; "let us in, Master Wad, and we shall drink to the admiral's health in a bicker of her best brown ale; moreover, I would fain hear the story of this battle off the May."