Page:George Gibbs--Love of Monsieur.djvu/174

 ye know your hangles, ye’re the very figure of a mate for Saucy Sally, for we want no more o’ ,” and he jerked his finger in the direction taken by Yan Gratz.

Mornay laughed. “I’ve had the deck of a taller ship than Saucy Sally.” Billy Winch grasped Mornay by the hand right heartily.

“Come, what d’ye say? Me an’ Jacky Jacquard an’ you. We three aft. We’ve need o’ ye. Zounds! but ye’ve the useful thrust an’ parry.” Then he roared with laughter. “An’ I’m mistaken if ye’re not as ’andy a liar as a pikeman. I’ve seen the play of the best in the French Marine, and Captain René Mornay would have a word to say with ye as to who’s the best half-pikeman in France.”

Jacquard held his sides to better contain himself; his mouth opened widely and his little eyes were quite closed with the excess of his delight. Mornay and Cornbury smiled a little, and the Frenchman said, with composure:

“Perhaps. Monsieur le Capitaine Mornay and I are not strangers. But he holds his repu- 162