Ay , I would know her among ten thousand ! -- a sweet shear , a sweet boat ! But marry come up , my gossip , will ye drink ? I have come into mine estate which doubtless ye remember to have heard on . I am now rich ; I have left to sail upon the sea ; I do sail now , for the most part , upon spiced ale . Come , fellow ; thy hand upon ` t ! Come , drink with an old shipfellow ! '' Skipper Arblaster , a long-faced , elderly , weather-beaten man , with a knife hanging about his neck by a plaited cord , and for all the world like any modern seaman in his gait and bearing , had hung back in obvious amazement and distrust . But the name of an estate , and a certain air of tipsified simplicity and good-fellowship which Lawless very well affected , combined to conquer his suspicious jealousy ; his countenance relaxed , and he at once extended his open hand and squeezed that of the outlaw in a formidable grasp . `` Nay , '' he said , `` I can not mind you . But what o ' that ? I would drink with any man , gossip , and so would my man Tom . Man Tom , '' he added , addressing his follower , `` here is my gossip , whose name I can not mind , but no doubt a very good seaman . Let 's go drink with him and his shore friend . '' Lawless led the way , and they were soon seated in an alehouse , which , as it was very new , and stood in an exposed and solitary station , was less crowded than those nearer to the centre of the port . It was but a shed of timber , much like a blockhouse in the backwoods of to-day , and was coarsely furnished with a press or two , a number of naked benches , and boards set upon barrels to play the part of tables . 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 ! ''
`` XXXXX , '' said Skipper Arblaster , '' 't is good weather to be ashore in , that is sooth .
Arblaster Ay Lawless Tom alehouse centre fire good-fellowship left shipfellow