"Come now, don't be hard on them, skipper; Dan is a good fellow and a
first-rate groom."
"He's an Irish blackguard," said Haco, "and not worth a pinch of his
namesake."
"You're quite mistaken," said Gildart, who went on to speak so highly of
the groom, that Haco, if not made to change his opinion, was so much
impressed as to agree at least to take the whole subject once again into
consideration.
"Another thing I wish you to do, skipper, which is to give me a passage
in your sloop to Athenbury. You spoke of running round there for
repairs soon, and I would rather go by sea than by that snorting
railway. Will you do it?"
"With pleasure, lad."
"Thank'ee; now I'll bid you good-night. You may depend upon it that you
won't be disturbed again by a band," said Gildart, laughing.
"I know that," replied Haco with a grin; "it's my opinion they've had
enough of me for one night. But won't ye stop an' share the
four-poster, lad? It's big enough, an' we'll soon repair the damage to
its bottom-timbers. There's a knuckle o' ham too, an' a flask o'
claret. I brought it with me, 'cause I never drink nothin' stronger
than claret--vang ordinair they calls it in France. What say you;
you'll stop?"
"No, thank'ee, skipper, much obliged, but I've business on hand
elsewhere. Good-night, old boy."