Moonshine made no answer, but went out and in until he had brought six ankers in, one after another, which he placed in a row on the floor. He then shut the outside door, bolted it, came in, and seating himself on one of the tubs, laughed to an excess which compelled him to hold his sides; Cockle and I looking on in a state of astonishment. "Where the devil did all this come from?" cried Cockle, getting out of his easy chair. "Tell me, sir, or by--" "I tell you all, Massa Cockle:--you find me better friend dan Missy O'Bottom. Now you hab plenty, and neber need scold Moonshine 'pose he take lilly drap. I get all dis present to you, Massa Cockle." Feeling anxious, I pressed Moonshine to tell his story. "I tell you all, sar. When I come back wid de two bottle I meet plenty men wid de tubs: dey say, `Hollo there, who be you?' I say, `I come from station: bring massa two bottel, and I show um.' Den dey say, `Where you massa?' and I say, `At um house at Ryde'--(den dey tink dat you my massa, Massa Farren)--so dey say, `Yes, we know dat, we watch him dere, but now you tell, so we beat you dead.' Den I say, `What for dat; massa like drink, why you no gib massa some tub, and den he neber say noting, only make fuss some time, 'cause of Admirality.' Den dey say, `You sure of dat?' and I say, `Quite sure massa neber say one word.' Den dey talk long while; last, dey come and say, `You come wid us and show massa house.' So two men come wid me, and when dey come to gate I say, `Dis massa house when he live at Ryde, and dere you see massa;'-- and I point to Massa Cockle, but dey see Massa Ferran--so dey say. `All very good; tree, four hour more, you find six tub here; tell you massa dat every time run tub, he alway hab six;' den dey go way, den dey come back, leave tub; dat all, massa." "You rascal!" exclaimed I, rising up, "so you have compromised me; why I shall lose my commission if found out." "No, sar; nobody wrong but de smuggler; dey make a lilly mistake; case you brought to court-martial, I give evidence, and den I clear you." "But what must we do with the tubs, Cockle?" said I, appealing to him. "Do Bob?--why they are a present--a very welcome one, and a very handsome one into the bargain. I shall not _keep_ them, I pledge you my word; let that satisfy you--they shall be _fairly entered_." "Upon that condition, Cockle," I replied, "I shall of course not give information against you." (I knew full well what he meant by saying he would not _keep_ them.) "_How_ I do, Massa Cockle," said Moonshine, with a grave face; "I take um to the Custom-house to-night or to-morrow morning." "To-morrow, Moonshine," replied Cockle; "at present just put them out of sight."