Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley (christmas read aloud .txt) 📕

ssed the bottomof the High Street, he came opposite to one of the many tavernswhich looked out upon the river. In the open bay window satmerchants and gentlemen, discoursing over their afternoon's draughtof sack; and outside the door was gathered a group of sailors,listening earnestly to some one who stood in the midst. The boy,all alive for any sea-news, must needs go up to them, and take hisplace among the sailor-lads who were peeping and whispering underthe elbows of the men; and so came in for the following speech,delivered in a loud bold voice, with a strong Devonshire accent,and a fair sprinkling of oaths.

"If you don't believe me, go and see, or stay here and grow allover blue mould. I tell you, as I am a gentleman, I saw it withthese eyes, and so did Salvation Yeo there, through a window in thelower room; and we measured the heap, as I am a christened man,seventy foot long, ten foot broad, and twelve foot high, of silverbars, and each bar between a thirty and forty pound weight.