“The gentleman on the wharf was about to take boat, to go through the Gate,” concluded Tier, “and so I begs a passage of him. He was good-natured enough to wait until I could find my bag, and as soon a'terwards as the men could get their grog we shoved off. The Molly was just getting in behind Blackwell's as we left the wharf, and, having four good oars, and the shortest road, we come out into the Gate just ahead on you. My eye! what a place that is to go through in a boat, and on a strong flood! The gentleman, who watched the brig as a cat watches a mouse, says you struck on the Pot, as he called it, but I says 'no,' for the Molly Swash was never know'd to hit rock or shoal in my time aboard her.” “And where did you quit that gentleman, and what has become of him?” asked Spike. “He put me ashore on that point above us, where I see'd a nigger with his skiff, who I thought would be willin' to 'arn his quarter by giving me a cast alongside. So here I am, and a long pull I've had to get here.” As this was said, Jack removed his hat and wiped his brow with a handkerchief, which, if it had never seen better days, had doubtless been cleaner. After this, he looked about him, with an air not entirely free from exultation. This conversation had taken place in the gangway, a somewhat public place, and Spike beckoned to his recruit to walk aft, where he might be questioned without being overheard. “What became of the gentleman in the boat, as you call him?” demanded Spike. “He pulled ahead, seeming to be in a hurry.” “Do you know who he was?” “Not a bit of it. I never saw the man before, and he did n't tell me his business, sir.” “Had he anything like a silver oar about him.” “I saw nothing of the sort, Capt. Spike, and knows nothing consarning him.” “What sort of a boat was he in, and where did he get it?” “Well, as to the boat, sir, I can say a word, seein' it was so much to my mind, and pulled so wonderful smart. It was a light ship's yawl, with four oars, and came round the Hook just a'ter you had got the brig's head round to the eastward. You must have seen it, I should think, though it kept close in with the wharves, as if it wished to be snug.” “Then the gentleman, as you call him, expected that very boat to come and take him off?” “I suppose so, sir, because it did come and take him off. That's all I knows about it.” “Had you no jaw with the gentleman? You was n't mnm the whole time you was in the boat with him?” “Not a bit of it, sir. Silence and I does n't agree together long, and so we talked most of the time.” “And what did the stranger say of the brig?” “Lord, sir, he catechised me like as if I had been a child at Sunday-school. He asked me how long I had sailed in her; what ports we'd visited, and what trade we'd been in. You can't think the sight of questions he put, and how cur'ous he was for the answers.”