'There are some trades that had best not even be spoken about.' 'You think that I am a conspirator ?' 'Well, master, since you have put a name to it.

Lor' love you, sir, we're used to it.' 'I give you my word that I am none.' 'An escaped prisoner, then ?' 'No, nor that either.' The man leaned upon his oar, and I could see in the gloom that his face was thrust forward, and that it was wrinkled with suspicion.
'If you're one of Boney's spies--' he cried.
'I! A spy!' The tone of my voice was enough to convince him.
'Well,' said he,' I'm darned if I know what you are.

But if you'd been a spy I'd ha' had no hand in landing you, whatever the skipper might say.' 'Mind you, I've no word to say against Boney,' said the other seaman, speaking in a very thick rumbling voice.

'He's been a rare good friend to the poor mariner.' It surprised me to hear him speak so, for the virulence of feeling against the new French Emperor in England exceeded all belief, and high and low were united in their hatred of him; but the sailor soon gave me a clue to his politics.
'If the poor mariner can run in his little bit of coffee and sugar, and run out his silk and his brandy, he has Boney to thank for it,' said he.
'The merchants have had their spell, and now it's the turn of the poor mariner.' I remembered then that Buonaparte was personally very popular amongst the smugglers, as well he might be, seeing that he had made over into their hands all the trade of the Channel.

The seaman continued to pull with his left hand, but he pointed with his right over the slate-coloured dancing waters.
'There's Boney himself,' said he.
You who live in a quieter age cannot conceive the thrill which these simple words sent through me.