When he had got beyond the village, the smile disappeared, and the chestnut felt the whip, in which the captain tied three good hard knots, across its sleek sides.
He was in a hurry, and he soon impressed it upon the horse, who tore into Tenby all on fire with surprise and anger at its novel treatment.
The captain stabled his steed, drank a glass of ale at the "Royal George", and then strolled through the town.
It was an old-fashioned place, but there were some good shops, among them an apparently well-stocked stationer's.
To this the captain directed his steps, and, sauntering in, purchased some paper and envelopes, also some ink and pens and pencils, and seemed inclined to purchase anything to which the shopman—an obliging fellow—called his attention.
"Have you any parchment? I am going to make a list of goods—curiosities, and such like—to send over seas, and I am afraid that paper might be destroyed," he explained.
"Oh, parchment is the thing, sair," said the man, and he took a roll of the same from a drawer.
"There is some, sir," said he, "but it is rather faded. The fact is we are not often asked for it, and this has been in the house for some time. If it is of any use to you I will charge you less than the usual price for it."
The captain turned it over indifferently, and separated the sheets with his finger.