But Sybil, with a sudden and violent gesture, cast it off, and started to her feet, seizing the knife beside her as a weapon of defence.
"Lord bless your pretty little soul, what's the good of that? Why, when I was a lad, I always liked to tease the kittens best that spit and scratched and fit the most! That only makes me like you better. Come now, sit down alongside o' me, and let's be good friends," said the ruffian, throwing his arms around Sybil, and forcing her into her seat.
"Stop that, you devilish beast! Let the lady alone!" cried Sybil's nameless hostess, in a voice of authority.
"Don't be jealous, my darling," replied Moloch, tightening his clasp around Sybil's waist.
"Men! why don't you interfere? He is rude to the lady!" cried the girl, appealing to the others.
"We never meddle between other men and their sweethearts. Do we, mates?" called out one.
"No, no, no!" answered the others.
"Oh, if Satan were here!" cried the girl in despair.
"Satan is here!" responded a voice close by.
And the robber captain stood among them as if he had risen from the earth!