"Well, Betsey, my deear," I heard Cap'n Jack say, "still on yer ould gaame. I hop' we've brok' the spell, my deear. Ted'n vitty, I tell 'ee. A pious man like me do nat'rally grieve over the sins of the flesh. But 'ere's Cap'n Billy Coad; you ain't a spoke to 'ee 'et." I wished that there had been a hole in the door, for I had a great desire to see Billy Coad, of whom I had heard Cap'n Jack speak so often. I heard his voice, however. It was softer even than Cap'n Jack's, and was of a wheedling tone, as though he wanted to get on comfortably with every one. "Hope you be braave, Cap'n Billy," croaked Betsey. "Eli, put away this broth; thews booys doan't want none of that soort." "No, Betsey, it do grieve me, yer nearest blood relation, to zee 'ee follin' in such ways." "You've bin glad ov me, though," retorted Betsey. "Iss, you be a gifted woman. You got et from Granfer. He tould 'ee a lot ov things, ded'na then?" "Mor'n I shell tell." "Come now, Betsey, laive us be oal comfortable like. You've got your gifts, and I've got mine. I doan't care 'bout sperrits to-night, Betsey; but you've got some good wine--that I knaw. Ah! Cap'n Billy ded some good trade on his laast voyage." "Good traade," sneered Betsey. "What's your traade nowadays? Zee wot Granfer ded." "Iss, I've wanted to talk to 'ee 'bout et, Betsey, my deear. I've bin very good to you." I heard some clinking of glass, and I knew they were drinking. I had heard only two voices, but by the footsteps I judged that more than two might have entered the cottage. In this, however, I was mistaken, for the others who had come with him left at the door. "Iss, I've bin very good to you and Eli," repeated Cap'n Jack. "You've never wanted summin' warm to drink." "A fat lot I've 'ad from 'ee," retorted Betsey, "and I ain't a wanted nothin' nuther. I've got my 'ouse, and I've got summin' to ait, so've Eli." "Iss. I sh'll make a man o' Eli." I heard Eli laugh in his strange, gurgling way. "I've made money, more'n Tamsin 'll want; well, and why sha'ant Eli 'ave some ov it?" "What 'ee'll git from you'll be good for sore eyes," snarled the old woman. "Ugh, ef I wanted money--aw, aw!--well, I knaw!" "You'm thinkin' 'bout the treasure. But you caan't git et, Betsey. Ef ould Granfer ded bury it some where out to say--well, you caan't git et. But ded a bury a treasure, Betsey, ef 'ee ded, why ded a die so poor?" Betsey did not reply. "Doan't you think 'tes oal lies, Betsey? Where's the paper weth the dreckshuns? I knaw 'ee sailed weth Cap'n Blackbeard, everybody do knaw that, and it's zed that the Cap'n was very rich--took oal soarts of things from the Spaniards and the Portugeese; but then where ded a put et? Zum zay on Lundy Island, others that he found a caave in Annette Island, and others that he found a place on the South Says; but ed'n et oal a taale, Betsey, my deear?" Betsey remained silent, while Eli grunted.