Two reeking bottles, also, with their necks wrenched off, lay upon the mat.

All this was encouraging; for, after a good dinner, one feels affluent and amiable, and peculiarly open to conviction.

So, at all events, I found the noble Vineyarder.
I began by saying that I called for the purpose of setting him right touching certain opinions of his concerning the place of my nativity:--I was an American--thank heaven!--and wanted to convince him of the fact.
After looking me in the eye for some time, and, by so doing, revealing an obvious unsteadiness in his own visual organs, he begged me to reach forth my arm.

I did so; wondering what upon earth that useful member had to do with the matter in hand.
He placed his fingers upon my wrist; and holding them there for a moment, sprang to his feet, and, with much enthusiasm, pronounced me a Yankee, every beat of my pulse! "Here, Mai-Mai!" he cried, "another bottle!" And, when it came, with one stroke of a knife, he summarily beheaded it, and commanded me to drain it to the bottom.

He then told me that if I would come on board his vessel the following morning, I would find the ship's articles on the cabin transom.
This was getting along famously.