He was a stout elderly man, who had been a sailor, as I learned, during the earlier part of his life, and was now much confided in by the Fishing Company, whose concerns he directed under the orders of Mr.Geddes.
'Thou didst not expect me to-night, friend Davies ?' said my friend to the old man, who was arranging seats for us by the fire.
'No, Master Geddes,' answered he, 'I did not expect you, nor, to speak the truth, did I wish for you either.' 'These are plain terms: John Davies,' answered Mr.Geddes.
'Aye, aye, sir, I know your worship loves no holiday speeches.' 'Thou dost guess, I suppose, what brings us here so late, John Davies ?' said Mr.Geddes.
'I do suppose, sir,' answered the superintendent, 'that it was because those d--d smuggling wreckers on the coast are showing their lights to gather their forces, as they did the night before they broke down the dam-dyke and weirs up the country; but if that same be the case, I wish once more you had stayed away, for your worship carries no fighting tackle aboard, I think; and there will be work for such ere morning, your worship.' 'Worship is due to Heaven only, John Davies,' said Geddes, 'I have often desired thee to desist from using that phrase to me.' 'I won't, then,' said John; 'no offence meant: But how the devil can a man stand picking his words, when he is just going to come to blows ?' 'I hope not, John Davies,' said Joshua Geddes.

'Call in the rest of the men, that I may give them their instructions.' 'I may cry till doomsday Master Geddes, ere a soul answers--the cowardly lubbers have all made sail--the cooper, and all the rest of them, so soon as they heard the enemy were at sea.

They have all taken to the long-boat, and left the ship among the breakers, except little Phil and myself--they have, by--!' 'Swear not at all, John Davies--thou art an honest man; and I believe, without an oath, that thy comrades love their own bones better than my goods and chattels.

And so thou hast no assistance but little Phil against a hundred men or two ?' 'Why, there are the dogs, your honour knows, Neptune and Thetis--and the puppy may do something; and then though your worship--I beg pardon--though your honour be no great fighter, this young gentleman may bear a hand.' 'Aye, and I see you are provided with arms,' said Mr.Geddes; 'let me see them.' 'Aye, aye, sir; here be a pair of buffers will bite as well as bark--these will make sure of two rogues at least.

It would be a shame to strike without firing a shot.