ships, as they could see by the clear
moonshine, had weighed anchor, and, profiting by the calm sky, proceeded
for more distant parts; answerably to this, the rude alehouses along the
beach (although in defiance of the curfew law, they still shone with fire
and candle) were no longer thronged with customers, and no longer echoed
to the chorus of sea-songs.

Hastily, half-running, with their monkish raiment kilted to the knee,
they plunged through the deep snow and threaded the labyrinth of marine
lumber; and they were already more than half way round the harbour when,
as they were passing close before an alehouse, the door suddenly opened
and let out a gush of light upon their fleeting figures.

Instantly they stopped, and made believe to be engaged in earnest
conversation.

Three men, one after another, came out of the ale-house, and the last
closed the door behind him. All three were unsteady upon their feet, as
if they had passed the day in deep potations, and they now stood wavering
in the moonlight, like men who knew not what they would be after. The
tallest of the three was talking in a loud, lamentable voice.

"Seven pieces of as good Gascony as ever a tapster broached," he was
saying, "the best ship out o' the port o' Dartmouth, a Virgin Mary
parcel-gilt, thirteen pounds of good gold money--"

"I have bad losses, too," interrupted one of the others. "I have had
losses of mine own, gossip Arblaster. I was robbed at Martinmas of five
shillings and a leather wallet well worth ninepence farthing."

Dick's heart smote him at what he heard. Until that moment he had not
perhaps thought twice of the poor skipper who had been ruined by the loss
of the Good Hope; so careless, in those days, were men who wore arms of
the goods and interests of their inferiors. But this sudden encounter
reminded him sharply of the high-handed manner and ill-ending of his
enterprise; and both he and Lawless turned their heads the other way, to
avoid the chance of recognition.

The ship's dog had, however, made his escape from the wreck and found his
way back again to Shoreby. He was now at Arblaster's heels, and suddenly
sniffing and pricking his ears, he darted forward and began to bark
furiously at the two sham friars.

His master unsteadily followed him.

"Hey, shipmates!" he cried. "Have ye ever a penny pie for a poor old
shipman, clean destroyed by pirates? I am a man that would have paid for
you both o' Thursday mor