"'So far as that is concerned, I'll knock under, Squire; but I just wants to see yer prove a thing or two afore ye come possum over this salt-water citizen!' returns Hornblower, spunkily, pulling from the pocket of his pea-coat a fascinating wedge of tobacco, which so tempted the Squire that he could not resist reaching out his hand and supplying his spacious mouth. As nature, ever erring, should be generous to nature, so also did I interrupt here by offering to plead Hornblower's case; to which meritorious object I commenced taking off my coat. "'Don't want nobody to soft-soap the case--especially a Yankee--for there's the law in that ar' book (here the high functionary turned down the corner of the very page on which it stood forcible to his mind), and I knows all about it--d----d if I don't!' "'Swearin' ain't judiciary, Squire!' says I. "'Tain't none a' your business,' he rejoined, letting his anger get above his caution. 'Call Jacob--he'll swar t' what he see'd the skipper do!' Here Jacob, a younger son of the Squire, was called. Jacob had seen some seventeen summers; and in addition to what larnin' the Squire had 'gin him,' was well up in the swearing business, for the furtherance of which his abilities were frequently invoked. "'There is not a man long shore what don't know and respect Jacob,' continued the Squire, shutting up his law book, angrily. 'Jacob's a son a' mine--Jacob 's got larnin, too--Jacob 's bin more nor two years to Master Jacques's school at the corner; and he has taken Master Jacques's place many a time when that larned gentleman had taken a drop too much. Now, Jacob, tell all you know; and let it be just as straight!' "'Well, Dad,' ejaculated Jacob, who, one might seriously have inferred, had been raised on a guano bag, and slipped very unexpectedly into a suit of linsey-woolsey grey mixed; 'I see'd the Virtue at anchor right broad off the nets, which the skipper kept a facksinatin eye on, as he paced up and down the quarter-deck.' "'The devil you did!' Hornblower cried out, at the top of his deep, coarse voice, letting fly a stream of juice that e'en most skinned the Squire's nasal organ. "'Dan'l!--d----mn it! bring a bucket here for the skipper!' interrupted the Squire. He hoped Jacob would continue with the remainder of his evidence. 'And the skipper looked so all-fired strong at the nets that I couldn't help tellin Uncle Enoch how they'd be stripped afore morning. Sure enough, just as I said, there warn't a herrin left in the mornin. Seeing how the game war' going, I went aboard to take breakfast with the skipper; and there, if his table warn't spread with the fattest fried fresh herrin--'