Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 3.djvu/142

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
138
THE NAVAL OFFICER.

or third step on the stairs, Mrs. Margaret brought to, and fired, until both were quite out of range; a distant rumbling noise was heard, and the admiral concluded, by muttering that she might go ———, somewhere, but the word died between his teeth.

"There, admiral," said I, " did not I tell you that you would have a squall?"

"Squall! yes—d—m my blood," wiping his face; "how the spray flew from the old beldam! She's fairly wetted my trowsers, by God. Who'd ever thought that such a purring old b—h could have shewn such a set of claws!— War to the knife! By heavens, I'll make her remember this."

Notwithstanding the admiral's threat, hostilities ceased from that day. The cock-and-hen admiral found it convenient to shew a white feather; interest stood in the way, and barred him from taking his revenge. Mrs. Jellybag was a faithful servant, and our host neither liked that she should be interfered with, or that his house should become an arena for such