Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 3.djvu/62

 as I know you are a d——d good fellow, and would as soon have a dust as sit down to dinner, I should like to try to get the command of the 'True-blooded Yankee again."

"If γοu man your next brig, as you manned the last, with all your best bands Englishmen," said I, "I fear I should find it no easy matter to defend myself."

"That's as it may be," said the captain; no man fights better than he with a halter round his neck: and remember what neighbour Green has said, for he has 'let the cat out of the bag:' we should have no Englishmen in our service, if they had not been pressed into yours." I could make no return to this salute, because, like the gunner at Landguard Fort, I had no powder, and, in fact, I felt the rebuke.

Green stood by, but never opened his lips until the captain had finished; then holding out his hand to me, with his eyes full of tears, and his voice almost choked, " Farewell, my excellent friend," said he; "I shall never forget