Part 33 (1/2)
”He saith true,” laughed Pirret ”Truly, he could not walk accoutred as he is Give it a slit--out with your knife and slit it, gossip”
Even Arblaster paused at this proposal; but as his companion continued to insist, and dick had the sense to keep the ed his shoulders over the delay, the skipper consented at last, and cut the cords which tied his prisoner's feet and legs Not only did this enable dick to walk; but the whole network of his bonds being proportionately loosened, he felt the arin to move more freely, and could hope, with tie it So reed of Master Pirret
That worthy now assumed the lead, and conducted them to the very same rude alehouse where Lawless had taken Arblaster on the day of the gale
It was now quite deserted; the fire was a pile of red e the most ardent heat; and when they had chosen their places, and the landlord had set before them a measure of mulled ale, both Pirret and Arblaster stretched forth their legs and squared their elbows like men bent upon a pleasant hour
The table at which they sat, like all the others in the alehouse, consisted of a heavy, square board, set on a pair of barrels; and each of the four curiously-assorted cronies sat at one side of the square, Pirret facing Arblaster, and dick opposite to the co man,” said Pirret, ”to your tale It doth appear, indeed, that ye have soossip Arblaster; but what then?
Make it up to hio pledge he will forgive you”
So far dick had spoken pretty much at random; but it was now necessary, under the supervision of six eyes, to invent and tell soet back into his hands the all-inet To squander tier his stay lasted, the more would his captors drink, and the surer should he be when he attempted his escape
Well, dick was not much of an inventor, and what he told was pretty much the tale of Ali Baba, with Shoreby and Tunstall Forest substituted for the East, and the treasures of the cavern rather exaggerated than diminished As the reader is aware, it is an excellent story, and has but one drawback--that it is not true; and so, as these three simple shi+pmen now heard it for the first tiaped like codfish at a fisher's
Pretty soon a second measure of mulled ale was called for; and while dick was still artfully spinning out the incidents a third followed the second
Here was the position of the parties towards the end: Arblaster, three-parts drunk and one-half asleep, hung helpless on his stool Even Toilance had abated in proportion Meanwhile, dick had gradually worht arm clear of its bonds, and was ready to risk all
”And so,” said Pirret, ”y' are one of these?”
”I was ainst old coin toin a filthy cave, and standing shot and buffet like a soldier Here be we four; good! Let us, then, go forth into the forest to-morrow ere the sun be up Could we come honestly by a donkey, it were better; but an we cannot, we have our four strong backs, and I warrant ”
Pirret licked his lips
”And this ic,” he said--”this password, whereby the cave is opened--how call ye it, friend?”
”Nay, none know the word but the three chiefs,” returned dick; ”but here is your great good fortune, that, on this very evening, I should be the bearer of a spell to open it It is a thing not trusted twice a year beyond the captain's wallet”
”A spell!” said Arblaster, half awakening, and squinting upon dick with one eye ”Aroint thee! no spells! I be a good Christian Ask ic,” said dick ”It doth naught with the devil; only the powers of numbers, herbs, and planets”
”Ay, ay,” said Pirret; ”'tis but white ossip There is no sin therein, I do assure you But proceed, good youth This spell--in what should it consist?”
”Nay, that I will incontinently show you,” answered dick ”Have ye there the ring ye took froer? Good! Now hold it forth before you by the extreainst the shi+ning of these embers 'Tis so exactly Thus, then, is the spell”
With a haggard glance, dick saw the coast was clear between hi forth his ar, and at the sa up the table, he sent it bodily over upon the sea under the ruins; and before Arblaster understood that anything rong, or Pirret could collect his dazzled wits, dick had run to the door and escaped into the ht
The moon, which now rode in the mid-heavens, and the extreround about the harbour bright as day; and young Shelton leaping, with kilted robe, aure from afar
To-shop they were joined by others whom their cries aroused; and presently a whole fleet of sailors was in full pursuit But Jack ashore was a bad runner, even in the fifteenth century, and dick, besides, had a start, which he rapidly improved, until, as he drew near the entrance of a narrow lane, he even paused and looked laughingly behind him