mightily and
thrice he cried "murder" in despite of me, whereupon the cry was taken
up by one here and others there, until the very ship seemed to roar
"murder."

Followed a rush of feet, a confusion of voices all about me and,
loosing my adversary, I reeled back to the mast under a rain of blows.

"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