"Oh, aye; main kind, Master Ormerod," he admitted. "But they would ha' had ye, whether or no. Sure, they're a grand, tricksy crew. And anyway, ye see, I was born to be a pirate. My troth, I was!"
Murray laughed pleasantly.
"'Tis a valiant youth, and should go far," he observed. "Moreover, he speaks the truth when he says we should have won our way in to you without his aid. The accommodation was convenient, but by no means essential.
"Where is Silver, Master Bones?" he added.
The man with the mahogany face touched his hat.
"John was seeing to it the sarvants was all secure, sir," he answered. "Here he is now."
A gap appeared in the ranks by the kitchen door, and the one-legged man I had met on the water-front that morning stumped in on his long crutch, as cheerfully serene as any honest householder.
"Was you askin' for me, captain?" he said. "We just finished up behind there—all gagged and roped, Bristol-fashion, safe for a day, sir."
And to me——
"My duty, Master Ormerod, and I hopes we'll know each other better soon."