This expression was accompanied with a look of curiosity, which Mr.Clarke was glad of an occasion to gratify; for, as we have hinted above, he was a very communicative gentleman, and the affair which now lay upon his stomach interested him nearly.
"I'll assure you, sir," said he, "this here gentleman, Captain Crowe, who is my mother's own brother, has been cruelly used by some of his relations.

He bears as good a character as any captain of a ship on the Royal Exchange, and has undergone a variety of hardships at sea.

What d'ye think, now, of his bursting all his sinews, and making his eyes start out of his head, in pulling his ship off a rock, whereby he saved to his owners"-- --Here he was interrupted by the captain, who exclaimed, "Belay, Tom, belay; pr'ythee, don't veer out such a deal of jaw.

Clap a stopper on thy cable and bring thyself up, my lad--what a deal of stuff thou has pumped up concerning bursting and starting, and pulling ships; Laud have mercy upon us!--look ye here, brother--look ye here--mind these poor crippled joints; two fingers on the starboard, and three on the larboard hand; crooked, d'ye see, like the knees of a bilander.

I'll tell you what, brother, you seem to be a--ship deep laden--rich cargo--current setting into the bay--hard gale--lee shore-- all hands in the boat--tow round the headland--self pulling for dear blood, against the whole crew--snap go the finger-braces--crack went the eye-blocks.