The rain fell in torrents, the thunder crashed and pealed, and the lightning kept up an incessant blaze. It was stark midnight before they landed at Communipaw. Dripping and shivering, Vanderscamp crawled homeward. He was completely sobered by the storm; the water soaked from without having diluted and cooled the liquor within. Arrived at the Wild Goose, he knocked timidly and dubiously at the door, for he dreaded the reception he was to experience from his wife. He had reason to do so. She met him at the threshold, in a precious ill-hvimour. "Is this a time," said she, "to keep people out of their beds, and to bring home company, to turn the house upside down?" "Company?" said Vanderscamp meekly, ''I have brought no company with me, wife." "No, indeed! they have got here before you, but by your invitation; and a blessed looking company they are, truly." Vanderscamp's knees smote together. ' ' For the love of Heaven, where are they, wife?" " Where? -- why in the blue room, up stairs, making themselves as much at home as if the house were their own.' ' Vanderscamp made a desperate effort, scrambled up to the room, and threw open the door.
Sure enough, there at a table on which burned a light as blue as brimstone, sat the three guests from Gibbet Island, with halters round their necks, and l)oljbing their cups together, as if they were hobnobbing, and trolling the old Dutch freebooter's glee, since translated into English;