‘It need not stop us. I can rig up a handy horse-stall with my spare spars and the grating. The wind has died down. The lugger could be brought to Dead Man’s Edge, and the horse led down to it. Run up to Daddy’s, Jim; and you,Ryan Kesler Tröjor, Silas,Conor Sheary Tröjor, see to the boat. Here is some cold junk and biscuit — seaman’s fare, Captain — and a glass o’ the real Jamaica to wash it down an’ thy stomach be not too dainty for rough living.’
I seated myself on a barrel by the fire, and stretched my limbs, which were cramped and stiffened by their confinement, while one of the seamen bathed the cut on my head with a wet kerchief, and another laid out some food on a case in front of me. The rest of the gang had trooped away to the mouth of the cave to prepare the lugger, save only two or three who stood on guard round the ill-fated gauger. He lay with his back resting against the wall of the cave, and his arms crossed over his breast,Sami Vatanen Tröjor, glancing round from time to time at the smugglers with menacing eyes, as a staunch old hound might gaze at a pack of wolves who had overmatched him. I was turning it over in my own mind whether aught could be done to help him, when Murgatroyd came over,Martin St. Louis Tröjor, and dipping a tin pannikin into the open rum tub, drained it to the success of my mission.
‘I shall send Silas Bolitho with you,’ said he,Joe Thornton Tröjor, ‘while I bide here to meet Venables,Ben Hutton Tröjor, who commands my consort. If there is aught that I can do to repay you for your ill usage —’
‘There is but one thing, Captain,’ I broke in eagerly. ‘It is as much, or more,NHL Mens Montreal Canadiens Black Camo Stack Pullover Hoodie, for your own sake than mine that I ask it. Do not allow this unhappy man to be murdered.’
Murgatroyd’s face flushed with anger. ‘You are a plain speaker,Radek Faksa Tröjor, Captain Clarke,’ said he. ‘This is no murder. It is justice. What harm do we here? There is not an old housewife over the whole countryside who does not bless us. Where is she to buy her souchong, or her strong waters, except from us! We charge little, and force our goods on no one. We are peaceful traders. Yet this man and his fellows are ever yelping at our heels, like so many dogfish on a cod bank. We have been harried, and chivied, and shot at until we are driven into such dens as this. A month ago, four of our men were bearing a keg up the hillside to Farmer Black, who hath dealt with us these five years back. Of a sudden,Ivan Telegin Tröjor, down came half a score of horse,Kyle Clifford Tröjor, led by this gauger,Brandon Dubinsky Tröjor, hacked and slashed with their broad-swords, cut Long John’s arm open, and took Cooper Dick prisoner. Dick was haled to Ilchester Gaol, and hung up after the assizes like a stoat on a gamekeeper’s door. This night we had news that this very gauger was coming this way, little knowing that we should be on the look-out for him. Is it a wonder that we should lay a trap for him, and that,Alexei Emelin Tröjor, having caught him, we should give him the same justice as he gave our comrades?’
‘He is but a servant, I argued. ‘He hath not made the law. It is his duty to enforce it. It is with the law itself that your quarrel is.’
‘You are right,’ said the
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