“Friend,” said the herald (he had turned quaker at the sight of the block), “why dost thou draw this way?”
“Because my business is funny cuts,” said the executioner, giving him a sudden pull.
“Don’t ketch me up so if thou art a Jack in the box wood way; thou shouldst not put such hard lines on a fellow.”
“I call you rather knave than fellow,” replied the executioner, getting somewhat surly, “I don’t need you to tell me how to make the cuts on my block.”
HEADS OR TAILS.
The boys began to feel rather uncomfortable at the idea of seeing a head cut off. They were somewhat relieved, however, to notice that the executioner and attendants, on getting the herald to the block, did not apply his neck to it, but made him sit down. They then began searching among the many trouser-legs that hung behind him, and were so long at this operation that Jaques, who, being a schoolboy, had an impression of his own as to what they were after, suddenly exclaimed—
“Instead of fumbling that way, why don’t you take dow——”
But care-taker Norval stopped Jaques’ mouth with his hand before he could get anything unmentionable out.
“We can’t find them, your Majesty,” said the executioner.