It's a grand word! Puts you in mind of tar and 'tarnal and tarpauling, and lots of shippy things.
'Twas hard to get used to it at first; but 'pon may word now, may dear, it comes as nat'ral as swearing.

But there! go on with the story.
Where were we ?" Valmai was a little bewildered by the captain's reminiscences.
"Well, we had just come to where the girl, or rather the young wife, had gone to live with her other uncle.

Here she would have been as happy as the day is long, had it not been for the continual sorrow for her lover." The captain began to look a little suspicious, but Valmai hastened to prevent further interruptions.
"But now comes the wonderful part of the story, uncle.

A dreadful storm arose, and a thick fog came on, and the ship in which the bridegroom sailed was so damaged that she had to put back for repairs.
The young man found lodgings in the town, and what house do you think he came to?
but the very one where the bride lived with her dear old uncle, and they made up their minds to tell him everything, and to throw themselves on his generosity.

Dear uncle, what do you think of my story ?" "Dashed if Ay didn't begin to think it was me you meant by the old man.
But child, child, you are not going to cheat that kind old uncle, and tell him a pack of lies, and laugh at him.