w is to correct the skipper!"

"Well, then, go your way," said Tom; "I wash my hands of you."

"Set him, then, upon his feet," said Master Pirret. "I know a privy
place where we may drink and discourse."

"If I am to walk, my friends, ye must set my feet at liberty," said
Dick, when he had been once more planted upright like a post.

"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 merest wooden indifference
of expression, and only shrugged 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 arm
behind his back begin to move more freely, and could hope, with time and
trouble, to entirely disengage it. So much he owed already to the owlish
silliness and greed 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 embers, radiating
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 common sailor.

"And now, young man," said Pirret, "to your tale. It doth appear,
indeed, that ye have somewhat abused our gossip Arblaster; but what
then? Make it up to him--show him but this chance to become wealthy--and
I will go 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 some marvellous
story, and, if it were possible, get back into his hands the
all-important signet. To squander time was the first necessity. The
longer his stay lasted, the more would his captors drink, and the surer
should he be when he attempted his escape.

Well, Dick was