I don't want none of them laryers a-turning up their noses at Bill Jones' tattooing." "Very well," said Augusta, with an inward sinking of the heart; "I will go and get ready." Accordingly she adjourned into the hut and removed the body of her dress and turned down the flannel garment underneath it in such a fashion as to leave as much of her neck bare as is to be seen when a lady has on a moderately low dress.

Then she came out again, dressed, or rather undressed, for the sacrifice.

Meanwhile, Bill had drawn out the ink-bag of the cuttle, had prepared a little round fragment of wood which he sharpened like a pencil by rubbing it against a stone, and had put a keen edge on to a long white fishbone that he had selected.
"Now, Mr.Bill, I am ready," said Augusta, seating herself resolutely upon a flat stone and setting her teeth.
"My word, Miss; but you have a fine pair of shoulders!" said the sailor, contemplating the white expanse with the eye of an artist.

"I never had such a bit of material to work on afore.

Hang me if it ain't almost a pity to mark 'em! Not but what high-class tattooing is an ornimint to anybody, from a Princess down; and in that you are fortunit, Miss, for I larnt tattooing from them as _can_ tattoo, I did." Augusta bit her lip, and the tears came into her eyes.