But, however,
he would see what the lad was fit for, and bind him apprentice to
some honest tradesman or other, provided he would mend his manners,
and behave for the future as became him." The honest tar (whose
pride and indignation boiled within him) answered my grandfather,
that it was true he had sent him to school, but it had cost him
nothing, for he had never been at one shilling expense to furnish
him with food, raiment, books, or other necessaries; so that it
was not much to be wondered at, if the boy made small progress; and
yet whoever told him so was a lying, lubberly rascal, and deserved
to be keel-haul'd; for thof he (the lieutenant) did not understand
those matters himself, he was well informed as how Rory was the
best scholar of his age in all the country; the truth of which he
would maintain, by laying a wager of his whole half-year's pay
on the boy's head--with these words he pulled out his purse, and
challenged the company: "Neither is he predicted to vice, as you
affirm, but rather, left like a wreck, d'ye see, at the mercy of
the wind and weather, by your neglect, old gentleman. As for what
happened to your chaplain, I am only sorry that he did not knock
out the scoundrel's brains instead of his teeth.
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