aw him go spinning over
and over, down and down and splash into the sea. And for three days I
watched that bit o' shore, living on shell-fish and watching for him,
to make sure I had finished him at last."

"And these other rogues?" says I.

"What like were they, shipmate?" Hereupon I described (as fully as I
might) the three sailor-men I had fought with in the hedge-tavern
(albeit I made no mention of the maid), while Penfeather listened,
nodding now and then and pinching at his long chin. "And this other
fellow," says he, when I had done, "this fellow that sang--d'ye know if
his name chanced to be Mings--Abnegation Mings, comrade?"

"The very same!" says I.

"Strange!" quoth Penfeather, and thereafter sat staring gloomily down
into the rippling waters of the brook for a while. "I wonder?" says he
at last. "I wonder?"

"What think ye shall bring these fellows so far from the coast--what
should they be after?"

"Me, shipmate!"

"You!" says I for the second time, marvelling at the strange quiet of
him. "And what would they have of you?"

"My life, shipmate, and one other thing. What that thing is I will
tell you when we have drunk the blood-brotherhood! But now it behoveth
me to be a-going, so I'll away. But when you shall seek me, as seek me
ye will, shipmate, shalt hear of me at the Peck-o'-Malt tavern, which
is a small, quiet place 'twixt here and Bedgebury Cross. Come there at
any hour, day or night, and say 'The Faithful Friend,' and you shall
find safe harbourage. Remember, comrade, the word is 'The Faithful
Friend,' and if so be you can choose your time--night is better." So
saying, he arose.

"Wait!" says I, pointing to the coins yet lying on the grass. "Take
your money!"

"'Tis none o' mine," says he, shaking his head. "Keep it or throw it
away--'tis all one to me!" Then he went away through the wood and, as
he went, I thought he walked with a new and added caution.

CHAPTER VIII

HOW I FELL IN WITH ONE GOD-BE-HERE, A PEDDLER

Evening was at hand as I reached a little alehouse well away from the
road and pleasantly secluded by trees: thither came I, fondling
Penfeather's money in my pocket, for I was again mightily sharp set.
But all at once I stopped, for, passing the open lattice, I heard loud
laughter and a merry voice:

"And there, believe me, gossips" (quoth this voice), "as sure as this
be beef--aye, and good beef and cooked to a turn, mistress--there's
this great, lob-l