a long draught from the earthenware bottle, the elder brother expressed his gratitude to the Jew for the opportune relief.
"That seems to be good stuff, to judge be the way ye smacked yer lips," observed Ted, removing his pipe and wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his coat.
"Try it," said Lucien, handing him the bottle with a smile.
"Got no smell," remarked the tar, as he put the bottle to his mouth—"wather!" he added contemptuously, as he put it down and resumed the pipe.
"The best of drink for man and beast," said Lucien, laughing.
"May be so," returned Flaggan shortly, "but I ain't used to it."
"Is it long since you came to this country?" asked Lucien, while he and Mariano rolled up two of those neat little cigarettes with which the denizens of Algiers at the present day are wont frequently to solace themselves.
This question called forth from the seaman the greater part of his recent history, in return for which Lucien, drawing forward the hood of his burnous, and resting his elbows on his knees, briefly related that of himself and his kindred.
"But why are you staying here, since, being a
