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But (even as I slept) ain the crack of whips, the harsh cries of the drivers, the shrill screa breaths with the rattle and creak of the great oars as they swung ceaselessly back and forth; nay, I could even feel the kick of the oar-shaft that had escaped(as I had done lory aboutmost sweet to hear, while before me stood a little, thin fellow in a broad-eaved, steeple-crowned hat, who peered at h narrowed eyes and poked at me with a stick

"And how's the wind, shipmate?" he questioned I sat up and scowled, whereupon he tucked the stick beneath an arhty sound," says he, "here I've stood a-poking at ye with roans?"

"For the which poking I'm minded to throw you into the horse-pond--"

"Why, that's asback a step "But no offence, shipain

"You sleep hty sound," says he, "and your bed none so easy!"

"I've knoorse!"

"Aye--the rowing-bench of a Spanish floating hell, shipain He was (as I say) a little man and clad in suit of russet-brown (very tri rapier or tuck, while in his ears (which were triold rings such as mariners do wear; his face was lean and sharp and wide ofto take in all things with swift-darting glances A scar that ran froe, it h he seeorous and active, with smooth, unwrinkled face, his hair was snohite

"Well, shipaze, "and how d'ye like h!" says he, sht in me as draws you, then?"

"No!"

"'Tis pity, for I've a feeling we shall sail aboard ship together yet"

"How should you know I've rowed aboard a Spanish ship?"

"You bear thein your sleep I took occasion to cast an eye over ye, d'ye see, and i' the new-healed scars on your wrist, your sunburnt skin and the desperate sink-or-swied you new-broke froalleass at a venture, d'ye see"