Page:Barbour--For the freedom from the seas.djvu/301

 "Nep, you old horse-thief!"

"Mart! Where'd did you come from?

"Right out of my little tin fish! She's down the harbor a ways. Got in this morning. I didn't know the old Dry-an-rot was here. Where's she lying? How are you? I say, owld de-ah, what's happened to your sleeve? Blow me, the lad's been promoted!"

"Mart, shake hands with Mr. Tipper. Tip, you've heard me speak of Townsend."

"Wot cheer, Townsend! As we say in dear old Amurica, put her thar!"

"Glad to know you!" laughed Mart, shaking hands. "You're one of the Arizona Tippers, of course. Can tell by your accent!"

"Right-o! Born and reared within sight of the jolly old Missouri!"

Tip declared that the occasion demanded food and drink and led the way to his favorite hostelry where, for the better part of two hours, the trio talked thirteen to the dozen and Mart recounted his adventures up north and got his tongue so twisted with Scottish words that Nelson feared for him. "Oh, it's all right if you like that sort of thing," declared Mart, "but excuse me! I got so finally that, begging Mr. Tipperary's pardon, it would have been a grand relief to me if the Brit- 276