chased by an easterly wind all the way from your Land's End to our Narrows, and it never could overhaul me." "And I presume the porpusses give it up in despair, don't they?" replied old Tom, with a leer; "and yet I've seen the creatures playing across the bows of an English frigate at her speed, and laughing at her." 66 They never play their tricks with me, old snapper; if they do, I cuts them in halves, and a-starn they go, head part floating on one side, and tail part on the other." "But don't they join together again when they meet in your wake?" inquired Tom. "Shouldn't wonder," replied the American captain. -66 Pray, captain, what may be that vessel they talk so much about at New York ?" Old Tom referred to the first steam vessel, whose qualities at that time had been tried, and an exaggerated report of which had been copied from the American papers. "That ship, or whatever she may be, that sails without masts, yards, or canvas; it's quite above my comprehension." "Old country heads can't take it in. I'll tell you what-she goes slick through the water, a-head or a-starn, broadside on, or up or down, or any way; and all you have to do is to poke the fire and warm your fingers; and the more you poke, the faster she goes, 'gainst wind and tide." "Well, I must see that, to believe it, though,” replied old Tom. "No fear of a capsize, I calculate. My little craft did upset with me one night, in a pretty considerable heavy gal; but she's smart, and came up again on the other side in a moment, all right as before. Never should have known any thing about it, if the man at the wheel had not found his jacket wet, and the men below. had a round turn in all the clues of their. hammocks." "After that round turn, you may belay," cried young Tom, laughing. "Yes, but don't let's have a stopper over all, Tom," replied his father. "I consider all this excessively divarting. Pray, captain, does every thing else fast in the new country?" go Every thing with us clean slick, I guess." "What sort of horses have you in America ?" inquired I. "Our Kentucky horses, I've a notion, would surprise you. They're almighty goers, at a trot, beat a N.W. gal of wind. I once took an Englishman with me in a gig up Allibama country, and he says, 'What's this great churchyard we are passing through ?' And stranger,' says I, I calculate it's nothing but the milestones, we are passing so slick.' But I once had a horse, who, I expect, was a deal quicker than that. I once seed a flash of lightning chace him for half an hour round the clearance, and I guess it couldn't catch him. But I can't wait no longer. I expect you'll come alongside to morrow afore meridian.” 暴 up. "Aye, aye, master,” replied old Tom, tuning "'Twas post meridian, half-past four, By signal I from Nancy parted, At five she lingered on the shore, With uplift eyes and broken-hearted." "I calculate you are no fool of a screamer," said the American, shoving off his boat from the barge, and pulling to his vessel. “And I calculate you're no fool of a liar," said young Tom, laughing. "Well, so he is; but I do like a good lie, Jacob, there's some fun in it. But what the devil does the fellow mean by calling a gale of wind -a gal?" "I don't know," replied Tom, "unless for the same reason that we call a girl—a blowing.” Our conversation was here interrupted by Mr. Hodgson, the new head-clerk, of whom I have hitherto said nothing. He came into the establishment in the place of Mr. Tomkins, when we quitted the Battersea wharf, and had taken an evident dislike to me, which appeared to increase every day, as Mr. Drummond gave me fresh marks of his approbation. "You, Faithful, come out of that barge directly, and go to your desk. I will have no eye-servers under me. Come out, sir, directly." "I say, Mr. Quilldriver," cried old Tom, "do you mean for to that Jacob is an eye sarver ?" say "Yes, I do, and want none of your imper |