Well, he be no friend o' yourn, and what's more, he's hand
and fist wi' others as be no friends o' yourn either, cut-throat
sailor-men and black rogues every one."

"How d'ye know 'em for sailor-men?"

"By their speech, master--I was a mariner once--and moreover by a
ranting, hell-fire chorus."

"Ha!" says Penfeather, shooting a glance at me. "A chorus, was it?"

"Aye, master, concerning murder and what not."

"And the words running like this--

'Two on a knife did part wi' life
And three a bullet took O!
But three times three died plaguily
A-wriggling on a hook O!'

Was that the way of it?"

"Smother me if it weren't!" quoth Godby, staring.

"Sit down, Godby, and tell me how you chanced on this," says Adam,
seating himself at the table.

"Well, master, I happened to lie snug hid 'neath a heap o' straw--and
for why, says you? Says I to you, by reason o' two lousy catchpolls as
won't let poor Godby be. Now this straw chanced to be in my Lady
Brandon's stables--and why there, says you? Says I to you, because
these lousy catchpolls being set on poor Godby by this black dog
Gregory, and him my lady's man, my lady's stables is the last place
catchpolls would come a-seeking Godby. Well now, as I lie there I fall
asleep. Now I'm a light sleeper and presently I'm roused by the sound
o' your name, master."

"Mine?" says Penfeather, softly.

"Aye. 'Here's a black passage to Captain Penfeather--curse him!" says
a voice. 'Aye,' says another, 'by knife or bullet or--' and here he
falls to singing of a knife and a bullet and a hook. 'Avast!' says a
third voice. 'Belay that, Abny, you'll be having all the lubbers about
the place aboard of us!' 'Why,' says the man Abny, 'since you're wi'
us well and good, but don't forget we was hard in his wake, aye, and
ready to lay him aboard long before you hove in sight and damn all,
says I.' 'Some day, Abny, some day,' says the other, "I shall cut out
that tongue o' yourn and watch ye eat it, lad, eat it--hist, here
cometh Gregory at last--easy all.' Now the moon was very bright,
master, and looking out o' my hay-pile as the door opened I spied this
rogue Gregory--"

"Did ye see aught o' the others?" questioned Adam.

"No master, not plain, for they kept to the dark, but I could see they
was four and one a very big man. 'Ha' ye got it, friend, ha' ye got
it?' says the big rogue. 'No, plague on't!' says Gregory. 'Look how I
will, I can find nought.' 'H