He glanced at the letter which Captain Mulgrave held.
“I don’t know how you came to hear about this letter, but you’re quite right as far as that is concerned. Only the man did not give it me; I found it on his dead body.”
“Ye found it moighty quick then, Capt’n. That’s not t’ weay moast on us cooms nigh a dead mon, to begin rummaging in ’s pockets before he’s cawld.”
“As to that, I guessed he’d come on an errand to me and had some message about him. And why should I have more respect for the fellow dead than I had for him alive? His carcase has no more value in my eyes than that of a carrion crow.”
“It’ll have a deal more, though, in t’ eyes of a jury, Capt’n.”
“Do you mean to try to hang me then, honest Barnabas?”
“Ah mean to tell what Ah seen, an’ leave it to joodge an’ jury to seay what they thinks on it.”
“And knowing me for such a desperate character you dare to tell me this to my face?”
“Happen Ah shouldn’t be so bold, but Ah gotten t’ revolver mysen.”
And Barnabas glanced at the weapon in his hand.