"Why, I was so angry myself, that, sapperment! I did give him a tip over the side—but split him—the comical little devil swam like a duck; so I made him swim astern for a mile to teach him manners, and then took him in when he was sinking.—By the knocking Nicholas! he'll plague you, now he's come over the herring-pond! When he was so high, he had the spirit of thunder and lightning."
"How did he get back from India?"
"Why, how should I know?—the house there was done up, and that gave us a shake at Middleburgh, I think—so they sent me again to see what could be done among my old acquaintances here—for we held old stories were done away and forgotten. So I had got a pretty trade on foot within the last two trips; but that stupid houndsfoot schelm, Brown, has knocked it on the head again, I suppose, with getting himself shot by the colonel-man.
"Why were you not with them?"
"Why, you see—sapperment! I fear nothing—but it was too far within land, and I might have been scented."
"True. But to return to this youngster—"
"Ay, ay, donner and blitzen! he's your affair," said the Captain.
"—How do you really know that he is in this country?"
"Why, Gabriel saw him up among the hills."
"Gabriel! who is he?"