Todd looked round, and found one of the men with a small bladder of spirits, and a little horn drinking-cup.
"Here," he said, "you can give us your opinion of this."
Todd tossed off the contents of the cup.
"Excellent!" he cried. "Excellent! That, indeed, is brandy. I do not think that such is to be got in London."
"Scarcely," said the man, as he helped himself, and then handed the bladder and the cup to his companion; "but we are going to put up our horse and cart now, and if you will be so good as to look at the old tree again, we will send the brandy away."
"Certainly," said Todd.
The brandy was soon, in some mysterious manner, disposed of, and then the cart was stopped at the door of a little country-looking inn, the landlord of which seemed to have a perfect understanding with the two men belonging to the Lively William.
"Now," said one of them to Todd, "as you have no objection to go on board at once, we will put you there."
"Objection?" cried Todd. "My objection is to remain on land. I beg that you will let me feel that I am on the deck of your vessel, as quickly as possible."
"That will do. This way."