Mordaunt  looked  down  and  was  silent,  doubting
whether  it  would  be  better  to  take  his  leave,  or  to
proceed  farther  in  his  offers  of  assistance.  Cleve-
land seemed  to  guess  at  his  thoughts,  for  he  imme-
diately added,  in  a  conciliating  manner,  —  "I  am  a
plain  man.  Master  Mertoun,  for  that  I  understand
is  your  name ;  and  I  am  a  ruined  man  to  boot,  and
that  does  not  mend  one's  good  manners.  But  you
have  done  a  kind  and  friendly  part  by  me,  and  it
may  be  I  think  as  much  of  it  as  if  I  thanked  you
more.  And  so  before  I  leave  this  place,  I'll  give
you  my  fowlingpiece ;  she  will  put  a  hundred  swan-
shot  through  a  Dutchman's  cap  at  eighty  paces  —
she  will  carry  ball  too  —  I  have  hit  a  wild  bull
within  a  hundred-and-fifty  yards  —  but  I  have  two
pieces  that  are  as  good,  or  better,  so  you  may  keep
this  for  my  sake."

"  That  would  be  to  take  my  share  of  the  wreck,"
answered  Mordaunt,  laughing.
VOL.  I.  —  9


130  THE  PIRATE.
