"I had a little husband no bigger than my thumb, I put him in a pint pot, and there I bid him drum :" when Moggy, who had turned back, saluted her with such a box on the ear that she made the drum of it ring again. The young lady was not one of those who would offer the other cheek to be smitten, and she immediately flew at Moggy and returned the blow; but Jemmy, who liked quiet, caught her round the legs, and, as if she had been a feather, threw her over his head, so that she fell down in the gutter behind him with a violence which was anything but agreeable. She gained her legs again, looked at her soiled garments, scraped the mud off her cheek-we are sorry to add, made use of some very improper language-and, finding herself in the minority, walked off, turning round and shaking her fist at every twenty paces. Moggy and her husband continued their course as if nothing had happened, and arrived at the house of Nancy Corbett, who had, as may be supposed, changed her lodgings and kept out of sight of Vanslyperken. Nancy was no stranger to Jemmy Ducks; so far as his person went, he was too remarkable a character not to be known by her who knew almost everybody; and, moreover, she had made sufficient inquiries about his character. The trio at once proceeded to business: Jemmy had promised his wife to join the smugglers; and it was now arranged, that both he and his wife should be regularly enlisted in the gang-she to remain at the cave with the women, unless her services were required elsewhere, he to belong to the boat. There was, however, one necessary preliminary still to be taken, that of Jemmy and his wife both taking the oath of fidelity at the house of the Jew Lazarus; but it was not advisable to go there before dusk, so they remained with Nancy till that time, during which she was fully satisfied that, in both parties, the band would have an acquisition, for Nancy was very keen and penetrating, and had a great insight into human nature. At dusk, to the house of Lazarus they accordingly repaired, and were admitted by the cautious Jew. Nancy stated why they had come, and there being, at the time, several of the confederates, as usual, in the house, they were summoned by the Jew to be witnesses to the oath being administered. Halfa-dozen dark-looking, bold men soon made their appearance, and recognised Nancy by nods of their heads. "Who have we here, old Father Abraham" exclaimed a stout man, who was dressed in a buff jerkin, and a pair of boots which rose above his knees. 66 A good man and true," replied Nancy, taking up the an swer. 66 Why, you don't call that thing a man!" exclaimed the fierce-looking confederate, with contempt. "As good a man as ever stood in your boots,” replied Moggy, in wrath. "Indeed! well, perhaps so, if he could only see his way when once into them," replied the man with a loud laugh, in which he was joined by his companions. "What can you do, my little man ?" said another, of a slighter build than the first, coming forward and putting his hand upon Jemmy's head. Now Jemmy was the best-tempered fellow in the world, but, at the same time, the very best-tempered people have limits to their forbearance, and do not like to be taken liberties with by strangers: so felt Jemmy, who, seizing the young man firmly by the waistband of his trousers just below the hips, lifted him from the ground, and with a strength which astonished all present, threw him clean over the table, his body sweeping away both the candles, so they were all left in dark ness. "I can douse a glim, anyhow," cried Jemmy. "That's my darling duck," cried Moggy, delighted with this proof of her husband's vigour. Some confusion was created by this manoeuvre on the part of Jemmy, but candles were reproduced, and the first man who spoke, feeling as if this victory on the part of Jemmy was a rebuke to himself, again commenced his interrogations. 66 Well, my little man, you are strong in the arms, but what will you do without legs? "Not run away, as you have done a hundred times,” replied Jemmy, scornfully. "Now by the God of war you shall answer for this," replied the man, catching hold of Jemmy by the collar; but in a moment he was tripped up by Jemmy, and fell down with great violence on his back. 66 Bravo, bravo!" exclaimed the rest, who took part with Jemmy. "That's my own little duck," cried Moggy; "you've shown him what you can do, anyhow." The man rose, and was apparently feeling for some arms secreted about his person, when Nancy Corbett stepped forward. "Do you dare?" cried she; "take what you have received, and be thankful, or—' and Nancy held up her little forefinger. The man slunk back among the others in silence. The old Jew, who had not interfered, being in presence of Nancy, who had superior commands, now read the oath, which was of a nature not to be communicated to the reader without creating disgust. It was, however, such an oath as was taken in those times, and has since been frequently taken in Ireland. It was subscribed to by Jemmy and his wife without hesitation, and they were immediately enrolled among the members of the association. As soon as this ceremony had been gone through, Nancy and her protégés quitted the house and returned to her lodgings, when it was agreed that the next night they should go over to the island, as Jemmy's services were required in the boat in lieu of Ramsay, whose place as steersman he was admirably qualified to occupy; much better, indeed, than that of a rower, as his legs were too short to reach the stretcher where it was usually fixed. The next evening the weather was calm and clear, and when they embarked in the boat of the old fisherman, with but a small portion of their effects, the surface of the water was unruffled, and the stars twinkled brightly in the heavens; one article which Jemmy never parted with was in his hand-his fiddle. They all took their seats, and the old fisherman shoved off his boat, and they were soon swept out of the harbour by the strong ebb tide. "An't this better than being on board with Vanslyperken, and your leave stopped?" observed Moggy. "Yes," replied the husband. "And I not permitted to go on board to see my duck of a husband-confound his snivelling carcase?" continued Moggy. "Yes," replied Jemmy, thoughtfully. "And in company with that supernatural cur of his?" Jemmy nodded his head, and then in his abstraction touched the strings of his violin. They say that you are clever with your instrument, Mr. Salisbury," observed Nancy Corbett. "That he is," replied Moggy; "and he sings like a darling duck. Don't you, Jemmy, my dear ?" "Quack, quack," replied Jemmy. "Well, Mr. Salisbury, there's no boat that I can see near us, or even in sight; and if there was it were little matter. I suppose you will let me hear you, for I shall have little opportunity after this? 66 With all my heart," replied Jemmy; who, taking up his fiddle, and playing upon the strings like a guitar, after a little reflection, sang as follows: Bless my eyes, how young Bill threw his shiners away, As he drank and he danced, when he first came on shore ! His pockets, he came up, my rhino to borrow; When our frigate came to from a cruise in the west, hand and his pen across his mouth. He was a very short man, with a respectable paunch, a very small head, quite bald, a keen blue eye, reddish but straight nose, and a very florid complexion. There was nothing vulgar about his appearance, although his figure was against him. His countenance was one of extreme frankness, mixed with considerable intelligence, and his whole manner gave you the idea of precision and calculation. "You would-tyfel-I forgot my pen,' "said the syndic, catching it as it fell out of his mouth. "You would speak with me, mynheer? To whom have I the pleasure of addressing myself?" "These letters, sir," replied Ramsay, "will inform you." Mynheer Van Krause faid his tablets on the table, putting his pen across to mark the leaf where he had them open, and, taking the letters, begged Ramsay to be seated. He then took a chair, pulled a pair of hand-glasses out of his pocket, laid them on his knees, broke the seals, and falling back so as to recline, commenced reading. As soon as he had finished the first letter, he put his glasses down from his eyes, and made a bow to Ramsay, folded the open letter the length of the sheet, took out his pencil, and on the outside wrote the date of the letter, the day of the month, name, and the name of the writer. Having done this, he laid the first letter down on the table, took up the second, raised up his glasses, and performed the same duty towards it, and thus he continued until he had read the whole six: always, as he concluded each letter, making the same low bow to Ramsay which he had after the perusal of the first. Ramsay, who was not a little tired of all this precision, at last fixed his eyes upon a Wouvermann which hung near him, and only took them off when he guessed the time of bowing to be at hand. The last having been duly marked and numbered, Mynheer Van Krause turned to Ramsay, and said, "I am most happy, mynheer, to find under my roof a young gentleman so much recommended by many valuable friends; moreover, as these letters give me to understand, so warm a friend to our joint sovereign, and so inimical to the Jacobite party. I am informed by these letters that you intend to remain at Amsterdam. If so, I trust that you will take up your quarters in this house." To this proposal Ramsay, who fully expected it, gave a willing consent, saying, at the same time, that he had proposed going to an hotel; but Mynheer Van Krause insisted on sending for Ramsay's luggage. He had not far to send, as it was at the door. "How did you come over?" inquired the host. In a king's cutter," replied Ramsay, "which waited for me at Portsmouth." This intimation produced another very low bow from Myn "Yes, and God keep me so, amen," replied Nancy, mournfully. Had not the night concealed it, a tear might have been seen by the others in the boat to trickle down the cheek of Nancy Corbett, as she was reminded of her former life; and as she again fixed her eyes upon the brilliant heavens, each particular star appeared to twinkle brighter, as if they rejoiced to witness tears like those. 66 "You must be light o' heart now, Mistress Nancy," observed Jemmy, soothingly. "I am not unhappy," replied she, resting her cheek upon her hand. "Mistress Nancy," said Moggy, "I should think a little of that stuff would do neither of us any harm; the night is rather bleak." Moggy poured out a glass and handed it to Nancy; she drank it, and it saved her from a flood of tears, which otherwise she would have been unable to repress. In a minute or two, during which Moggy helped herself and the old boatman, Nancy's spirits returned. Do you know this air?" said Nancy to Jemmy, humming it. "Yes, yes, I know it well, Mistress Nancy. to it?" Will you sing Nancy Corbett, who had been celebrated once for her sweet singing, as well as her beauty, immediately commenced in a soft and melodious tone, while Jemmy touched his fiddle. Lost, stolen, or stray'd, The heart of a young maid; They shall rewarded be, With kisses one, two, three. O yes! O yes! O yes! |