"Let me inquire about my old friends first--and let me introduce my son to you--you've taken no notice of _him_ yet! That's not hospitable." All eyes were turned at once on Nigel, some boldly, others with a shy inquiring look, as though to say, Can _you_ tell stories?
"Come, now," said Nigel, advancing, "since you are all so fond of my father, I must shake hands with you all round." The hearty way in which this was done at once put the children at their ease.

They admitted him, as it were, into their circle, and then turning again to the captain continued their clamour for a story.
"No, no--about old friends first.

How--how's old mother Morris ?" "Quite well," they shouted.

"Fatterer than ever," added an urchin, who in England would have been styled cheeky.
"Yes," lisped a very little girl; "one of 'e doors in 'e house too small for she." "Why, Gerchin, you've learned to speak English like the rest," said the captain.
"Yes, father make every one learn." "Well, now," continued the captain, "what about Black Sam ?" "Gone to Batavia," chorused the children.
"And--and--what's-'is-name ?--the man wi' the nose--" A burst of laughter and, "We's _all_ got noses here!" was the reply.
"Yes, but you know who I mean--the short man wi' the--" "Oh! with the turned _up_ nose.

_I_ know," cried the cheeky boy; "you means Johnson?
He goed away nobody know whar'." "And little Nelly Drew, what of her ?" A sudden silence fell on the group, and solemn eyes were turned on sister Kathy, who was evidently expected to answer.
"Not dead ?" said the captain earnestly.
"No, but very _very_ ill," replied the girl.
"Dear Nelly have never git over the loss of her brother, who--" At this point they were interrupted by another group of the captain's little admirers, who, having heard of his arrival, ran forward to give him a noisy welcome.