“Yis, sor, if ye’ll go down on your bended knees and take an oath.”
“Oath! What oath?”
“Niver to bethray or take part in annything agen Commodore Junk, the thruest, bravest boy that iver stepped.”
“You are right, Dinny. He is a brave man, and I swear that I will not betray or attack him, come what may. Get me my liberty and the liberty of my men, and I’ll be content. Stop! I cannot go so far as that; there are my men. I swear that I will not attack your captain without giving him due notice, that he may escape; but this nest of hornets must be burned out, and my men freed.”
“Ah, well, we won’t haggle about thrifles, sor. Swear this, sor:—Ye’ll behave to the captain like a gintleman.”
“I’ll swear I will.”
“Bedad, then, I’m wid ye; and there’s one more favour I’ll be asking ye, sor.”
“What is it!”
“Whin we get safe home ye’ll come and give Misthress Greenheys away.”
“Yes, yes, Dinny. And now, tell me, what will you do?”