Jake touched his forelock, but stood in lubberly silence. "What, can’t ’ee find yer tongue? Now, hearken to me, and say what I say. If you please, Squire——" "’If you please, Squire——’" "I be truly thankful——" "’I be truly thankful——’" "As Maister Dick saved me from being drownded." "’As Maister Dick saved me from being drownded.’" "Purticler as I didn’ deserve it." "’Purticler as I didn’ deserve it.’" "Good now! I mean it, sir, and so do he. And I’ve brought ’ee a keg of cognac and a tin o’ bacca—bought with honest money, Squire; and I axe ’ee to take ’em as a little small offering from a man who’s a feyther like as you be." "Thank you, my man," said the Squire, his face kindling with pleasure. "I appreciate your thanks, and so will Dick: and I shall appreciate your gift, I assure you. Jake isn’t much the worse for his ducking, I can see." "And I hope Maister Dick bean’t either," said Tonkin. "Not a bit. He’ll be as well as ever after a night’s rest. Jake should learn to swim, you know." "And I woll, if Maister Dick’ll larn me," said Jake suddenly. "Well, I don’t know about that," said the Squire, with a slight reserve in his manner. "You see, there has been some feeling lately——" "See now, Squire," interrupted Tonkin bluntly, "answer me a plain question, man to man. Did you, or anybody belongin’ to ’ee, ever spy or inform on we honest free-traders?" "That’s a question you ought to be ashamed to put to me," said the Squire warmly. "Do you think a Trevanion would ever do such a thing?" "Well, no, I didn’ think so till—— Howsomever, I’ll say no more o’ that. I axe yer pardon, and I hope ye’ll let bygones be bygones, and that’s said honest." "With all my heart." The Squire extended his hand to the smuggler, whose grip made him wince. "That’s brave and comf’able," said Tonkin. "And now I wish ’ee well, sir, and you, ma’am, and if so be as Maister Dick ’ll larn Jake to swim, I’ll be proud, and so will he." The Squire showed the three men out, and they returned home well satisfied with their interview. Tonkin was soon the centre of a group of his particular friends in the parlour of the Five Pilchards, to whom, after announcing that he would believe no more "’nation gammut," as he put it, about the Squire and his son, proceeded to relate the issue of his visit to Roscoff. "I hain’t brought Doubledick back wi’ me," he said. "For why? ’Cos he warn’t theer!" CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH A Bargain with the Revenue