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"And you such a timid man, Adam!"

"True, Martin, but there's occasion when a worht and breaking the seal, read it through, once with a gli, glanced across atyou, Martin, hark'ee!" And he read this: "To MASTER ADAM PENFEATHER: Should you chance upon the poore man that suffered lately in the pillory (by no order or will of e you do all you may to succour him in any manner soever: This letter I do write in much haste to instruct you that I purpose to sail in the 'Faithfull Friend' along with you and ood cuzen Sir Rupert in this quest for my father Moreover I will you should sail as speedily soon asman afore-mentioned, if he be quite destitute as I do think hie most like, then Master Adam you shall offer to him such employ in my ship the 'Faithfull Friend' as he will accept

And this is reat and tall and fierce with yellow hair and cruell mouth, yet seemeth more cruell than he trulie is"

"So there you are to a hair, Martin, and here's our enterprise brought to nought if she sail on this venture!"

"Why then she mustn't sail!" says I

"'Tis her ship, Martin, and she's a Brandon!"

"Then sail without her"

"And be taken before we're clear o' the Downs and strung up at Execution Dock for piracy"

"Why then if she goeth aboard I don't!"

"And wherefore not, Martin?"

"I'll take no service with a Brandon!"

"Aye verily there's your pride, Martin, which is cuo"

"Call it what you will, I'll not sail"

"And your oath, co respect for your high-stomached pride you shall stoay in some hole or corner and she never know you're aboard"

Hereupon I scowled, but perceiving hiri slowly back and forth, head bowed and hands locked behind him

"I need you, Martin," says he at last, "aye, I need you even ht, the one man I may trust to in a pinch For, Martin, here's that I don't understand"

So saying he halted by the table, and presently taking up the dagger (and with a strange reluctance) fell to twisting it this way and that; finally he gave a sudden twist and the s away, showed a hollow cavity, running the length of the haft, rooly contrived Slowly he fitted the head into place again and, laying the weapon down, shook his head: "Here's Bartle its keen point "Here's what found Bartlemy's black heart--aye, andover cliff in Tressady's fist--and yet here it lies--which is great matter for wonder, Martin And, since 'tis here--why then--where sis the vile rogue Tressady? Which is matter for painful speculation, Martin--where?"