"Was ’ee afeard you med see the ghost, maister?" asked Sam, rejoicing to think that he had a fellow in timorousness. "Well, no. A ghost is a sperit, they say, and I reckon I’ve got enough muscle in my aged arm to fend off a thing as has got no body." "Still, you was talkin’ to yerself as if ye was in great pain and sorrer. ’A-deary me,’ ’ee said; I heard ’ee twice; and then ’the world’s a-cold,’—and I s’pose ’ee felt the need o’ takin’ a comfortin’ pull at yer pipe, for I heerd no more." "It do show how young small chickerels like ’ee may be mistaken. Whenever I talk like that I be feelin’ warmish and contented; remember that, young Sam, and don’t traipse about spreadin’ false reports about me. Moreover, don’t ’ee tell nothing of yer climbing up the well, for ’a don’t want the village rampin’ round, spoilin’ my peacefulness. St. Cuby’s ghost hev his uses, and long may he walk." "Very well, Joe," said Dick, "we’ll say nothing about it. There have been no runs yet, I suppose?" "No; ’tis early days for that. ’Tis true as Mr. Mildmay was called off Morvah way to-day. Maybe they’ll try a run there to-night. But it won’t be long afore we have trouble here, I reckon, for the pilchurs are late this year, and when they’re late, smugglin’ is early, ’cos the men get tired o’ doin’ nothing." "Well, we had better be going. I usually tell Mother when I expect to be late, fishing or what not, and she’ll wonder what has become of me. Are you coming our way, Joe?" "Not yet, sir. I’ve a bit more meditation to get through first." "What do you meditate about?" asked Dick. "About my days o’ youth, when I was a nimble young feller and served the King afloat. Ah! they were days, they were. Lord Admiral Nelson be a fine little chap, but nothing to the admiral I served with." "Who was that?" "Lord Admiral Rodney. Never shall I forget the time he spoke to me: yes, lord as he was, he did so. It do warm me of a cold night to think of it. Not every simple mariner could say he’d been spoke to ashore by sech a high person as a admiral." "What did the lord high admiral say to ’ee?" asked Sam, much impressed. "Well, ’twas on Plymouth Hoe, and the admiral was walking with two handsome females, showing ’em Drake’s Island; Drake was another mariner, you must know, as lived about a thousand year ago, seemingly. Well, I turned round to look at the great man, and that moment he changed his course, put up his helm, ye may say, and ran across my bows. ’Get out o’ the way, you cross-eyed son of a sea-cook!’ says he to me. Ah! never shall I forget it, nor the tinkly laugh o’ they fine females. ’Twas a great honour to be spoke to special by Lord Admiral Rodney, a fine feller of a man." "I don’t wonder it keeps you warm," said Dick, laughing. "Good-night, Joe." "Good-night to you, sir. And young Sam, mind ’ee o’ what I said."