In the middle , and besieged by half a hundred violent draughts , a fire of wreck-wood blazed and vomited thick smoke . `` Ay , now , '' said Lawless , `` here is a shipman 's joy -- a good fire and a good stiff cup ashore , with foul weather without and an off-sea gale a-snoring in the roof ! Here 's to the Good Hope ! May she ride easy ! '' `` Ay , '' said Skipper Arblaster , '' 't is good weather to be ashore in , that is sooth . Man Tom , how say ye to that ? Gossip , ye speak well , though I can never think upon your name ; but ye speak very well . May the Good Hope ride easy ! Amen ! '' `` Friend Dickon , '' resumed Lawless , addressing his commander , `` ye have certain matters on hand , unless I err ? Well , prithee be about them incontinently . For here I be with the choice of all good company , two tough old shipmen ; and till that ye return I will go warrant these brave fellows will bide here and drink me cup for cup . We are not like shore-men , we old , tough tarry-Johns ! '' `` It is well meant , '' returned the skipper . `` Ye can go , boy ; for I will keep your good friend and my good gossip company till curfew -- ay , and by St. Mary , till the sun get up again ! For , look ye , when a man hath been long enough at sea , the salt getteth me into the clay upon his bones ; and let him drink a draw-well , he will never be quenched . '' Thus encouraged upon all hands , Dick rose , saluted his company , and going forth again into the gusty afternoon , got him as speedily as he might to the Goat and Bagpipes . Thence he sent word to my Lord Foxham that , so soon as ever the evening closed , they would have a stout boat to keep the sea in . And then leading along with him a couple of outlaws who had some experience of the sea , he returned himself to the harbour and the little sandy creek . The skiff of the Good Hope lay among many others , from which it was easily distinguished by its extreme smallness and fragility .
Indeed , when Dick and his two men had taken their places , and begun to put forth out of the creek into the open XXXXX , the little cockle dipped into the swell and staggered under every gust of wind , like a thing upon the point of sinking .
Ay Foxham Mary Tom a-snoring curfew draw-well fragility harbour sooth