“Very well—­very well.  Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken—­marriage, indeed, I’d as soon marry his cur.”

“Mein Gott!” exclaimed Babette.  “I think madame, if you did marry, you would soon find the master as cross as the dog; but I must make this bed.”

Babette proceeded to examine the mischief, and found that it was only the cords which tied the sacking which had given way, and considering that they had done their office for thirty-two years, and the strain which had been put upon them after so long a period, there was not much to complain of.  A new cord was procured, and, in a quarter of an hour, all was right again; and the widow, who had sat in the chair fuming and blowing off her steam, as soon as Babette had turned down the bed, turned in again, muttering, “Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken—­marriage indeed.  Well, well, we shall see.  Stop till to-morrow, Mr Vanslyperken;” and as Babette has closed the curtains, so will we close this chapter.

Chapter XII

In which resolutions are entered into in all quarters, and Jemmy Ducks is accused of mutiny for singing a song in a snow-storm.

What were the adventures of Snarleyyow after this awkward interfence with his master’s speculations upon the widow, until he jumped into the beef boat to go on board of the cutter, are lost for ever; but it is to be supposed that he could not have remained the whole night without making himself disagreeable in some quarter or another.  But, as we before observed, we know nothing about it; and, therefore, may be excused if we do not tell.

The widow Vandersloosh slept but little that night:  her soul was full of vengeance; but although smarting with the imprints of the cur’s teeth, still she had an eye to business; the custom of the crew of the cutter was not to be despised, and, as she thought of this, she gradually cooled down.  It was not till four o’clock in the morning that she came to her decision; and it was a very prudent one, which was to demand the dead body of the dog to be laid at her door before Mr Vanslyperken should be allowed admittance.  This was her right, and if he was sincere, he would not refuse; if he did refuse, it was not at all clear that she should lose the custom of the seamen, over the major part of whom Vanslyperken then appeared to have very little control; and all of whom, she knew, detested him most cordially, as well as his dog.  After which resolution the widow Vandersloosh fell fast asleep.

But we must return on board, where there was almost as much confusion as there had been on shore.  The reappearance of Snarleyyow was considered supernatural, for Smallbones had distinctly told in what manner he had tied him up in the bread-bags, and thrown him into the canal.  Whisperings and murmurings were heard all round the cutter’s decks.  Obadiah Coble shrugged up his shoulders, as he took an extra quid—­Dick Short walked about with lips