The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 291: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

286 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. ‘< Because it ain’t.”” ‘‘ And if it ain’t,” continued the man, * what is it then ?” “My belief is,” said the old sailor, “it’s a dead shark. There'll be a man overboard, or a death on board, in less than four-and-twenty hours. I’ve seen them customers afore; they come for certain bast, and will take no other. Old Captain Meggin, who knew more about the sea than any man living—and good reason, too, for he had been born upon it, lived on it, died on it, and was buried in it—used to say they were the souls of pursers who had been cast overboard, and couldn’t forget their old trade. Every man-of-war’s- man knows that the purser lives upon sailors.” A sagacious nod amongst the men, and ‘“ Tom’s right,” passed from mouth to mouth. “ It’s my belief,”’ observed one of the ’prentice lads, a sharp, quick-eyed youth, who had been sent to sea because his friends could do nothing with him at home, “it’s not nothing of the kind.” ‘What is it, then, young lobscouse ? ” demanded the old man, good-humouredly ; for the lad was a favourite with the crew, and every one expected a joke when Gentleman Jack, as he was nicknamed by the men, opened his lips. “TI guess,” said the saucy boy, with a glance at the cabin passenger who was always so nervous when a sail appeared, “ that it is one of the Forresters.” “What Forrester, you lubber ?” COniiclooecl SS (SO