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 not much of an inventor, and what he told was pretty much
the tale of Ali Baba, with Shoreby and Tunstall Forest substituted for
the East, and the treasures of the cavern rather exaggerated than
diminished. As the reader is aware, it is an excellent story, and has
but one drawback--that it is not true; and so, as these three simple
shipmen now heard it for the first time, their eyes stood out of their
faces, and their mouths gaped like codfish at a fishmonger's.

Pretty soon a second measure of mulled ale was called for; and while
Dick was still artfully spinning out the incidents a third followed the
second.

Here was the position of the parties towards the end:

Arblaster, three-parts drunk and one-half asleep, hung helpless on his
stool. Even Tom had been much delighted with the tale, and his vigilance
had abated in proportion. Meanwhile Dick had gradually wormed his right
arm clear of its bonds, and was ready to risk all.

"And so," said Pirret, "y' are one of these?"

"I was made so," replied Dick, "against my will; but an I could but get
a sack or two of gold coin to my share, I should be a fool indeed to
continue dwelling in a filthy cave, and standing shot and buffet like a
soldier. Here be we four; good! Let us, then, go forth into the forest
to-morrow ere the sun be up. Could we come honestly by a donkey, it were
better; but an we cannot, we have our four strong backs, and I warrant
me we shall come home staggering."

Pirret licked his lips.

"And this magic," he said--"this password, whereby the cave is
opened--how call ye it, friend?"

"Nay, none know the word but the three chiefs," returned Dick; "but here
is your great good fortune, that, on this very evening, I should be the
bearer of a spell to open it. It is a thing not trusted twice a year
beyond the captain's wallet."

"A spell!" said Arblaster, half awakening, and squinting upon Dick with
one eye. "Aroint thee! no spells! I be a good Christian. Ask my man,
Tom, else."