In another moment Perez was up on the piazza in full view of the crowd, which abashed a little by his presence, for a moment drew back a little.
“What do you want, men? You ought not to break into people's houses! You musn't disgrace the hemlock.”
“Tha's all mighty fine, Cap'n,” said Meshech Little, “but we want suthin tew drink.”
“Why don't you get it at the tavern?”
“The widder won't treat no more, an she's kinder got Abner bewitched like, so's he backs her up, an we can't git nothin thar 'thout fightin Abner, darn him.”
“I say Cap'n 'tain't fa'r fer yew ter be a interferin with all our fun,” spoke up another.
“That's so,” said others. “Cap'n,” remarked Meshech, “yew jess let us 'lone, we hain't a techin yew, an we're baoun tew hev a time ter night.”
Perez knew well enough that to attempt to wholly thwart the intentions of this excited and drunken crowd, would be beyond his power, or at least involve a bloody riot, and so he replied, good-naturedly:
“That's all right, boys, you shall have your time, but it won't do to break into houses. Go over to the guardhouse and tell Abe Konkapot that I say you may have a couple of gallons of the town rum we seized the other night.” This compromise was tumultuously accepted, the entire crowd starting on a run toward the Fennell house, each hoping to get the first advantage of the largess.
“Come in, Captain,” said Edwards, and Perez entered.