“Yes, Mistress Nancy, but it be more worse than that, I an’t got no behind to my trousers, they pulled it out when they pulled me into the boat.  I sticks to this here rock for decency’s sake.  What must I do?”

Nancy burst into a laugh.  “Do, why if you can’t have men’s clothes, you must put on the women’s, and then you’ll be in the regular uniform of the cave.”

“I do suppose that I must, but I can’t say that I like the idea much, anyhow,” replied Smallbones.

“Why, you don’t mean to stick to that rock like a limpit all your life, do you? there’s plenty of work for you.”

“If so be, I must, I must,” replied Smallbones.

“You can’t appear before Mistress Alice in that state,” replied Nancy.  “She’s a lady bred and born, and very particular too, and then there’s Miss Lilly, you will turn her as red as a rose, if she sees you.”

“Well then, I suppose I must, Mistress Nancy, for I shall catch my death of cold here, I’m all wet and shivery, from being so long in the water, and my back against the rock, feels just as ice.”

“No wonder, I’ll run and fetch you something,” replied Nancy, who was delighted at the idea of dressing up Smallbones as a woman.

Nancy soon returned with a chemise, a short flannel petticoat, and a shawl, which she gave to Smallbones, desiring him to take off his wet clothes, and substitute them.  She would return to him as soon as he had put them on, and see that they were put tidy and right.

Smallbones retired behind one of the rocks, and soon shifted his clothes, he put everything on the hind part before, and Nancy had to alter them when she came.  She adjusted the shawl, and then led him into the cave where he found Mistress Alice, and some of the women who were not busy with the cargo.

“Here’s the poor lad who was thrown overboard, madam,” said Nancy, retaining her gravity.  “All his clothes were torn off his back, and I have been obliged to give him these to put on.”

Lady Barclay could hardly repress a smile.  Smallbones’ appearance was that of a tall gaunt creature, pale enough, and smooth enough to be a woman certainly, but cutting a most ridiculous figure.  His long thin arms were bare, his neck was like a crane’s, and the petticoats were so short as to reach almost above his knees.  Shoes and stockings he had none.  His long hair was platted and matted with the salt water, and one side of his head was shaved, and exhibited a monstrous half-healed scar.

Lady Barclay asked him a few questions, and then desired Nancy to give him some refreshment, and find him something to lie down upon in the division of the cave which was used as a kitchen.

But we must now leave Smallbones to entertain the inhabitants of the cave with the history of his adventures, which he did at intervals, during his stay there.  He retained his women’s clothes, for Nancy would not let him wear any other, and was a source of great amusement not only to the smugglers’ wives, but also to little Lilly, who would listen to his conversation and remarks which were almost as naive and unsophisticated as her own.