who had
used me so scurvily at Maidenhead the night before. I drew aside to let
them pass, for I wanted none of their company. But one--he who had
voted to hang me--came up in a friendly way.

"Come, lad," said he, "look not glum; our gallants will have their
jest."

"'Tis no jest to call a loyal subject of the Queen a Jesuit, still less
to hang him," said I.

"Well, well," said he, "next time we'll call thee Puritan and burn
thee--that will make the balance straight. Meanwhile join us, and scour
that frown off thy visage," and he clapped me on the back with a whack
which made my nag prick up her ears and jump a foot off the ground.

It took me some time to follow his last advice; but as the fellow seemed
honest, though a fool, and he and his comrades made little more pace
than I did, I made the best of what I could not help, and ambled beside
him at the tail of the troop.

Then he told me that they were going to Wales to get together provisions
for an expedition to Ireland, and offered me good pay and plenty of
knocks if I would only join them.

"We shall have a merry time of it," said he, "with a merry man for
captain."

At this I pricked my ears.

"What is his name?" asked I.

"What I say: Captain Merriman, a gallant officer, and a desperate man of
war."

"I know he is that," said I, with the blood rushing to my temples.

"You know him, then?" said the man, "and you will join us. Ho! ho! Who
would thought I could find him such a recruit?"

"Before I serve under your Captain Merriman," said I, losing temper,
"you may do what you promised last night, and hang me up on the nearest
tree."

He stared at me when I said that.

"Why, what mean you?"

"That is my business," said I, shortly; "but if you would take him a
message, you may tell him there is as good duck-weed in Ireland as ever
there is in Finsbury Fields, and that Humphrey Dexter says so."

The man burst into a laugh.

"Did ever I see such blustering roarers as you city 'prentices? I
warrant you Captain Merriman will shake in his shoes when I tell him. I
do not know if I should not run you through the body for talking thus of
a gallant gentleman; but I'll spare thee, Humphrey, this time: 'tis too
hot to fight."

"Not for me," said I, "if that is what you mean."

He laughed again at that.

"Come along," said he, clapping me again on the back, "join us, and you
shall tell Captain Merriman all about the duck-weed yourself; and a
p