After about five minutes of this the cart was pulled up with a scramble, and he heard a voice call out, as it seemed, from the hedge—
"Well?"
"Right you are," answered Young Zeb;
"He's in the front room, pullin' on his boots. You'd best look slippy."
"Where's the coin?"
"There!" The stranger heard the click of money, as of a purse being caught. "You'll find it all right."
"H'm; best let me count it, though. One—two—three—four. I feels it my dooty to tell ye, young man, that it be a dirty trick. If this didn't chime in wi' my goodwill towards his Majesty's service, be danged if I'd touch the job with a pair o' tongs!"
"Ay—but I reckon you'll do't, all the same, for t'other half that's to come when you've got en safe an' sound. Dirty hands make clean money."
"Well, well; ye've been dirtily sarved. I'll see 'ee this arternoon at the 'Four Lords.' We've orders to sail at five, sharp; so there's no time to waste."
"Then I won't detain 'ee. Clk, Jessamy!"