“Och, don’t, captain! Ye’d waken yer crew horribly if ye were to hang me.”
“I’ll hang you, as sure as you stand there, if you don’t confess.”
“Murther! Don’t, now, captain, for I shouldn’t die dacently if ye did hang me. It isn’t a way I’ve been accustomed to. Ah, moind! That pishtol might go off.”
“It will go off if you don’t speak. He’s hidden somewhere here, and you know where. Speak out!”
“Shpake out! And is it shpake out?” said Dinny, slowly as with advanced blade Humphrey stood ready to plunge it into the breast of the first man who attempted to descend. “Oh, well, I’ll shpake out then.”
“The traitor!” mattered Humphrey. “False to one, false to all.”
“Where is he, then?” roared Mazzard.
“Faix, he’s in his skin, captain.”
“You dog!” roared Mazzard. And there was the report of a pistol, followed by a wild shriek.
“Don’t—don’t kill!” cried a piteous woman’s voice. “Don’t kill him!”