Black Bartlemys Treasure | Page 9

at the dice-box that one of the men was shaking
vigorously--a tall, hairy fellow this, with great rings in his ears; thus
stood he rattling the dice and smiling while his companions cursed him
hoarsely.
With a twist of the hand the hairy man made his throw, and as the three
evil heads stooped above the dice, I clambered through the window,
levelled pistol in one hand, heavy staff in the other.
"What d'ye set?" quoth I. The three sprang apart and stared at me quite
chapfallen.
"What's to do?" growled one.
"First your barking-irons--lay them here on the table and quick's the
word!" One after another they drew the weapons from their belts, and
one by one I tossed them through the window.
"What!" quoth one, a lank rogue with a patch over one eye and winking
the other jovial-wise, "How now, mate o' mine, shall dog bite dog
then?"
"Aye," says I, "and with a will!"
"Nay, nay, shipmate," quoth another, a plump, small man with round,
bright eyes and but one ear, "easy now--easy. We be three lorn
mariners d'ye see--jolly dogs, bully boys, shipmate--a little fun wi' a
pretty lass--nought to harm d'ye see, sink me! Join us and welcome,

says I, share and share alike O!"
"Aye, I'll join you," quoth I, "but first--you wi' the rings-- open the
door!" Here the hairy fellow growled an oath and reached for an empty
tankard, and thereupon got the end of my staff driven shrewdly into his
midriff so that he sank to the floor and lay gasping.
"Nay now, shipmate," quoth the plump man in wheedling tone but
round eyes snapping, "here's lubberly manners, sink and scuttle me--"
"Open the door!" says I.
"Heartily--heartily!" says he, his eye upon my cudgel, and edging to the
door, drew the bolts and set it wide.
"Woman," quoth I, "run!"
With never a word the maid sprang erect, caught her torn cloak about
her and, speeding across the room, was gone; whereupon the lank
fellow sat him down and fell a-cursing viciously in Spanish and
English, the plump man clicked his teeth and grinned, while 'Rings,'
leaning against the wall, clasped his belly and groaned.
"Well so, my bully roarer, and what now?" demanded the plump man,
softly.
"Why now," says I, "'twas share and share alike, I mind--"
"Aye, but she's off, slipped her moorings d'ye see, my good lad, and be
damned t' ye wi' all my heart," said the little plump man, smiling, but
with the devil peeping through his narrowed lids.
"Look'ee," says I, laying a groat upon the table, "there's my all--come
turn out your pockets--"
"Pockets!" murmured the plump man, "Lord love me, what's this?
Here's us cheated of a bit of daintiness, here's Abner wi' all the wind
knocked out o' him and now here's you for thieving and robbing three
poor lorn sailor-men as never raised hand agin ye-- shame, shipmate."

"Od rot your bones!" snarled the one-eyed man and spat towards me,
whereat I raised my staff and he, lifting an arm, took the blow on his
elbow-joint and writhed, cursing; but while I laughed at the fellow's
contortions, the plump man sprang (marvellous nimble) and dashed out
the light and, as I stepped from before the window, I heard the lattice
go with a crash of glass. Followed a long, tense moment wherein we all
(as I judge) held our breath, for though the storm yet roared beyond the
shattered casement, within was a comparative quiet. Thus, as I stood in
the dark listening for some rustle, some stealthy creeping step to guide
my next blow, I thrust away my pistol and changing my staff to my
right hand, drew forth the broad-bladed sailor's knife I carried, and so
waited mighty eager and alert, but heard only the far-off booming of
the wind. Then a floorboard creaked faintly to my left, and turning
short, I whirled my staff, felt it strike home and heard a fierce cry and
the uneven tread of staggering feet.
"Fight, rogues!" cried I. "Here's meat and drink to me--fight!" and
setting my back to the wall I waited for their rush. Instead I heard a
hoarse whispering, lost all at once in a woman's shrill scream out
beyond the casement, and thereafter a loud voice that hailed:
"House ho! House ahoy! Light ho! Show a glim, ye drunken dogs!" and
here followed a rush of roaring sea-oaths, drowned in a scream, louder,
wilder than before. Then, while this distressful cry yet thrilled upon the
air, pandemonium broke loose about me, shouts, cries and a rush and
trample of feet; the table went over with a crash and the darkness about
me rained blows. But as they struck random and fierce, so struck I and
(as I