"And in pairfect English," continued Jock. "Ah lays it doon as a first princeeple, that the vulgar is liable to interrupt: Yankees especially being constructed like a dog, with an inch of brain to a fathom of mouth."
"!," said the Yankee, or something to that effect.
"But them as hae the gift of reason," Jock turned his eyes away from the American, "may have obsairved the hoose flag at oor fore truck, a white pennant wi' red letters 'H.B.C.,' the which means Here Before Christ forbye the Hudson's Company goes forth to the uttermost heathen which can be skinned for furs, and the missionaries do not follow after.
"And for why? Them as has brains, instead of"—he glanced at the Yankee—"of a bucket o' slush, considers the ways of the heathen. The missionary gives the puir savage a guid conceit of his soul, so up goes the price of furs. Whereupon the missionary is not invited, ye ken, to follow after.
"Whilk this Hudson's Bay Company is Here Before Christ in a second sense o' standing in front of Him, not being especially relegate to damnation, but for the maist pairt Presbyterian. So ye'll tak' notice, shipmates, that if the Company buys a leaky bucket, the same is put in soak until the wood swells—and is, in a manner, a reformed, guid, soond bucket, wi' warranty to haud water.
"So if the Company engages of a liar—like some he-ere present—as I sees grinning—he'll be richt weel advised to wrop up his girt talent in a napkin, or put it under a bushel, the while he larns to tell the truth—in moderation, ye ken.
"And if the Company engages a thief, the same will go to waste for want o' practice, or he'll be cast oot into a wilderness o' mosquitos withoot sae much as a hook to fush wi'.
"Ye manna leak, nor lie, nor steal, or ye'll na stay i' the Hudson's Bay Sairvice ane week. And as to gettin' fu'—— Well, boys, if I didna get droonk, for ma stomach's sake, ye ken, I'd be a captain afloat or a chief trader ashore instead o' wasting guid advice on a lot o' gumps in a ship's forec'stle.
"The which brings me roond to this lad heare, as is shippit i' the name o' Willie Muggins, whereas he's no but a lubberly bargee, taking the wage of an honest able-bodied sailorman. Coom oot o' that bunk, Willie, and let me get me een on ye. So. Rub oot the grin frae yer ugly mug, me son, and, juist as if ye were standin' He-ere Befo' Christ, tak a' that I say to hearrt.
"This Captain Home, a' for his own honor and glory, and to keep his log book free frae blots and erasures, taks a bargee oot o' London River, worth ten shillin' a month as a boy, and ca's ye an a-able seaman at twa pun' ten a month, with anither man's kit to haud for yer ain, and a bunk among men in the forecastle.