"That's 'cause you're a lubber of a landsman. The long and short of walking a plank is just this. We passed a wide plank over the gunnel, greasing it well at the outer end, led the Frenchmen up to it blindfolded, and wished them `bon voyage,' in their own lingo, just out of politeness. They walked on till they toppled into the sea, and the sharks did'nt refuse them, though they prefer a nigger to any thing else." "What does he say, Mustapha?" interrupted the pacha. Mustapha interpreted. "Good; I should like to have seen that," replied the pacha. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Well, as soon as we were rid of the Frenchmen, we made our port, and soon had another cargo on board, and, after a good run, got safe to the Havannah, where we sold our slaves; but I did'nt much like the sarvice, so I cut the schooner, and sailed home in summer, and got back safe to England. There I fell in with Betsey, and as she proved a regular out and outer, I spliced her; and a famous wedding we had of it, as long as the rhino lasted; but that wasn't long, the more's the pity; so I went to sea for more. When I came back after my trip, I found that Bet hadn't behaved quite so well as she might have done, so I cut my stick, and went away from her altogether. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Why didn't you put her in a sack?" inquired the pacha, when Mustapha explained. "Put her head in a bag--no, she wasn't so ugly as all that," replied the sailor. "Howsomever, to coil away." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I joined a privateer brig, and after three cruises I had plenty of money, and determined to have another spell on shore, that I might get rid of it. Then I picked up Sue, and spliced again; but, Lord bless your heart, she turned out a regular built tartar--nothing but fight fight, scratch scratch, all day long, till I wished her at old Scratch. I was tired of her, and Sue had taken a fancy to another chap; so says she one day, "As we both be of the same mind, why don't you sell me, and then we may part in a respectable manner." I agrees; and I puts a halter round her neck, and leads her to the market-place, the chap following to buy her. "Who bids for this woman," says I. "I do," says he. "What will you give?" "Half-a-crown," says he. "Will you throw a glass of grog into the bargain?" "Yes," says he. "Then she's yours; and I wish you much joy of your bargain." So I hands the rope to him, and he leads her off. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "How much do you say he sold his wife for?" said the pacha to Mustapha, when this part of the story was repeated to him. "A piastre, and a drink of the fire water," replied the vizier. "Ask him if she was handsome?" said the pacha.