Page:Ballantyne--The Pirate City.djvu/339

Rh His appearance was greeted with a shout of delight by several children who were present, and the French consul, willing to amuse them, went up, and, shaking hands with the boar, begged of him to join in the dance.

Poor Ted would have given anything to have known what was said to him, but, being utterly ignorant of French, shook his head and bowed with an air of profound respect, which piece of politeness caused his short and rather ill-fitting tail to stick straight up in the air for a moment, and drew roars of laughter from the company.

"Dansez, dansez vous," said the Frenchman, with more emphasis.

"Och! it's that ye want, is it?" said Ted, much relieved; "sure I'll do it with all the pleasure in life.—Clear the deck, boys!"

And without more ado the lively tar began to whistle a sailor's hornpipe, and to dance the same with an amount of vigorous dexterity that had in former years made him the favourite of the forecastle.

The surprise soon merged into admiration, for our hero danced exceedingly well, and all eyes were attracted to him. Among others the British consul came forward to look on with much interest and curiosity, for his ear was perhaps the only one present to which the tune whistled was familiar.