‘Moll,’ said one of the group, familiarly to her, ‘who are these strangers yonder in the vessels?’
‘Time will show!’ was the reply.
‘Ay, who doubts that?’
‘None, that I know of,’ was the vacant reply of the reputed witch.
‘But can’t you tell us, Moll, by your art who they really are? wether friends or enemies, rogues or honest men?’
‘Give me gold and I’ll try!’ was the reply.
‘No, no, Moll, we did but ask thee a friendly question, as a friend, and not in the way of thy trade.’
‘And as a friend I answered.’
‘Come, come, Moll, thou art dumpish to-day. Give us thy opinion now, and I will promise thee the first mess of fresh fish; there’s pay for thee; wilt speak now, woman?’
‘That brig lay in Boston harbor a couple of months gone by,’ said an old fisherman to the rest, ‘I know her by the rig.’