Pete burst into a peal of laughter. He shouted, roared, held his sides, doubled, rocked up and down, and at length flung himself into a chair, threw back his head, heaved out his legs, and shook till the house itself seemed to quake.
“Well, that's good! that's rich! that bates all!” he cried.
The child awoke on Nancy's knee and sent its thin pipe through Pete's terrific bass. Cæsar opened his mouth and gaped, and the young man, now white and afraid, scraped and backed himself to the door, saying—
“Then perhaps it's not true, after all, Capt'n?”
“Of coorse it's not true,” said Pete.
“Maybe you know where she's gone.”
“Of course I know where's she's gone. I sent her there myself!”
“You did, though?” said Cæsar.
“Yes, did I—to England by the night sailing.”
“'Deed, man!” said Cæsar.