"Stand away--back all!" cried a voice. "Gi'e mea shot at the rogue!" and the muzzle of a caliver was thrust into my face, only to be dashed aside as Adam sprang before me.
"Hold off!" says he, whereupon they shrank back from me, one and all, before his levelled pistol, and there came a moment's silence wherein I heard Godby utter a gasp, and letting fall the caliver he stared at me a-gape. "Here's no murderer, ye fools!" says Adam, scowling round on them, "'Tis no more than--ha, way for Sir Rupert--make way for the Captain, there!"
"Pray what's to do, Master Penfeather?" demanded Sir Rupert, hasting forward with drawn sword and the three gentlemen behind him. "What's all this riot?"
"Nought but a stowaway rogue, Sir Rupert, and one beknown to me in England."
"Ha!" says Sir Rupert, stroking a curl of his great peruke, "How cometh he brawling with the watch?"
"Look'ee, my masters," cried the red-headed fellow (gasping and making great to-do of gurgling and clasping his throat where I had squeezed him) "look'ee, sirs, at my bloody face--all bloodied I be and nigh done for by yon murdering rogue. Here's me on my watch and no thought o' harm, and suddenly out o' nowhere he takes him and grips me from behind and would ha' murdered me as he murdered t'others!"
"Ha!" cried Sir Rupert, "The man reeks blood, observe, Master Penfeather, and here's grave charge beside!"
Now as I leaned there against the mast I saw a figure flit down the quarter-ladder and fain would have fled, yet seeing this vain, hung my head and cowered in a very agony of mortified pride.
"And you know this man, you say, Master Adam?" questioned Sir Rupert.
"Aye I do, sir, for a desperate fellow, and so doth my Lady Brandon--and yourself also."
"Ha? Bring him forward where I may get look of him." The which being done, Sir Rupert starts back with sword-point raised.
"By heaven!" he cried, "How cometh this fellow aboard?"
"A stowaway as I said, sir," quoth Adam. "You mind him very well, it seemeth."
"Aye, verily!" says Sir Rupert, tapping me lightly with his sword as I stood between my captors. "Ha--you're the rogue stood i' the pillory!"
"Aye!" I nodded, scowling at his dainty person. "And you're the one that set me there!"
"'Tis a rogue ingrain!" said Sir Rupert, frowning in turn. "O a very desperate fellow as you say, Master Adam, and like enough the murderer we are a-seeking." Hereupon I laughed and was kicked (unseen) therefor by Adam.
"My lady!" says he, turning where she stood hard by, "You have seen this fellow, I think."