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neighbor； who pretended not to hear him。
〃I need not say that these were the days when we had not lost our
carrying trade； when American bottoms〃
〃Que est ce； 'bot toom'？〃 said Legrande； imploringly； to his other
friend。
〃When American bottoms still carried the bulk of freight； and the
supremacy of our flag〃
Here Legrande recognized a patriotic sentiment and responded to it
with wild republican enthusiasm； nodding his head violently。 Piccadilly
noticed it； too； and； seeing an opening for some general discussion on free
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trade； began half audibly to HIS neighbor： 〃Most extraordinary thing； you
know； your American statesmen〃
〃I deserted the ship at Liverpool〃
But here two perfunctory listeners suddenly turned toward the other
end of the table； where another guest； our Nevada Bonanza lion； was
evidently in the full flood of pioneer anecdote and narration。 Calmly
disregarding the defection； he went on：
〃I deserted the ship at Liverpool in consequence of my ill… treatment
by the second mate；a man selected for his position by reason of his
superior physical strength and recognized brutality。 I have been since told
that he graduated from the state prison。 On the second day out I saw him
strike a man senseless with a belaying pin for some trifling breach of
discipline。 I saw him repeatedly beat and kick sick men〃
〃Did you ever read Dana's 'Two Years before the Mast'？〃 asked
Lightbody； our heavy literary man； turning to HIS neighbor； in a distinctly
audible whisper。 〃Ah！ there's a book！ Got all this sort of thing in it。
Dev'lishly well written； too。〃
The Patagonian （alive for information）： 〃What ess this Dana； eh？〃
His left hand neighbor （shortly）： 〃Oh； that man！〃
His right hand neighbor （curtly）： 〃The fellah who wrote the
Encyclopaedia and edits 'The Sun'？ that was put up in Boston for the
English mission and didn't get it。〃
The Patagonian （making a mental diplomatic note of the fact that the
severe discipline of the editor of 〃The Sun；〃 one of America's profoundest
scholars； while acting from patriotic motives； as the second mate of an
American 〃bottom；〃 had unfitted him for diplomatic service abroad）： 〃Ah；
ciel！〃
〃I wandered on the quays for a day or two； until I was picked up by a
Portuguese sailor； who； interesting himself in my story； offered to procure
me a passage to Fayal and Lisbon； where； he assured me； I could find
more comfortable and profitable means of returning to my own land。 Let
me say here that this man； although I knew him afterward as one of the
most unscrupulous and heartless of pirates；in fact the typical buccaneer
of the books；was to me always kind； considerate； and； at times； even
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tender。 He was a capital seaman。 I give this evidence in favor of a
much ridiculed race； who have been able seamen for centuries。〃
〃Did you ever read that Portuguese Guide…book？〃 asked Lightbody of
his neighbor； 〃it's the most exquisitely ridiculous thing〃
〃Will the great American pirate kindly go on； or resume his original
functions；〃 said Miss Jones； over the table； with a significant look in the
direction of Lightbody。 But her anxiety was instantly misinterpreted by
the polite and fair…play loving Englishman： 〃I say； now； don't you know
that the fact is these Portuguese fellahs are always ahead of us in the
discovery business？ Why； you know〃
〃I shipped with him on a brig； ostensibly bound to St。 Kitts and a
market。 We had scarcely left port before I discovered the true character
of the vessel。 I will not terrify you with useless details。 Enough that all
that tradition and romance has given you of the pirate's life was ours。
Happily； through the kindness of my Portuguese friend； I was kept from
being an active participant in scenes of which I was an unwilling witness。
But I must always bear my testimony to one fact。 Our discipline； our
esprit de corps； if I may so term it； was perfect。 No benevolent society；
no moral organization； was ever so personally self…sacrificing； so honestly
loyal to one virtuous purpose； as we were to our one vice。 The individual
was always merged in the purpose。 When our captain blew out the brains
of our quartermaster； one day〃
〃That reminds meDID you read of that Georgia murder？〃 began
Lightbody； 〃it was in all the papers I think。 Oh； I beg pardon〃 〃For
simply interrupting him in a conversation with our second officer；〃
continued our host； quietly。 〃The act； although harsh and perhaps
unnecessarily final； was； I think； indorsed by the crew。 James； pass the
champagne to Mr。 Lightbody。〃
He paused a moment for the usual casual interruption； but even the
active Legrande was silent。
Alas！ from the other end of the table came the voice of the Bonanza
man：
〃The rope was around her neck。 Well； gentlemen； that Mexican
woman standing there； with that crowd around her； eager for her blood；
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dern my skin！ if she didn't call out to the sheriff to hold on a minit。 And
what fer？ Ye can't guess！ Why； one of them long braids she wore was
under the noose； and kinder in the way。 I remember her raising her hand
to her neck and givin' a spiteful sort of jerk to the braid that fetched it
outside the slip…knot； and then saying to the sheriff： 'There； dn ye； go on。'
There was a sort o' thoughtfulness in the act； a kind o' keerless； easy way；
that jist fetched the boyseven them thet hed the rope in their hands； and
they〃 （suddenly recognizing the silence）： 〃Oh； beg pardon； old man；
didn't know I'd chipped into your yarnheave ahead； don't mind me。〃