"To be sure I was. In that place I lost my precious limbs," replied he.
"Then you must be Bill Kay, whom Captain H——and I left at Bombay," said I.
"And you are Jack Square," said he. "Give me your hand, old shipmate." And he held up the stump to me, and burst out a-laughing as I shook the sleeve.
The female gave him an angry look, with so much more of meaning than anger, that I thought she knew all we said.
"Come, Betsy, don't be sulky," said he; "I wish to have a bit of a talk with my old mate. Come, be a good girl, and let us go back to Berwick. Jack Square, you will not be ashamed to walk home with us?"
The wife nodded a consent, and away we trudged to the town, from which we were only a small distance.
During our walk, I told him that I was on my way to London to look out for a vessel to India, as my fortune had been adverse in Scotland; and I was sick of the land, and careless what became of me.
"Never strike to an enemy, or quit the pumps while your vessel can float," cried he. "There are many ways of leading a jovial life. You were always my friend, and a good fellow. Give me your word, Jack, you will either stay and join us, or pass on and do us no harm, and I will have no secrets from you. Speak the word."
"I know not what you mean," I replied. "As for joining you. I do not think, in the meantime, I shall, until I know better about it; and as for hurting you or doing any harm, I give you my sincere assurance I will not, however much I might gain by it."
"Betsy, my dear," said he, "we are not going to the kenn, we will go home. I wish to entertain my old friend."