“You lie, knave!”
“On my word, no living soul told me.”
“Not old Nettles, the landlord of the public-house?”
“No, he never breathed a word; but fought with the Skeleton Crew like a warrior.”
“That’s just what you should have done, and then I wouldn’t have made up my mind to hang you, as I may do yet. Are you sure that old Nettles never said a word?”
“I’m positive, and will swear it!”
“’Tis well, for if he had done so I should be under the necessity of cutting his throat to-night so as to stop his mouth.”
“What a bloodthirsty villain!” thought Tim.
“As you will, perhaps, be a dead man shortly, and as dead men don’t tell any tales, I don’t mind letting you know a thing or two as to who and what old Nettles is.”
“What is he?”