“Would she were sleeping with a heavenly soundness, mate,” replied the other as he shut the door behind him.
The crew of the Coldlight went off in a body to their ship, rolling and singing happily.
Sue and Hal assisted the old landlord to his room, a nightly duty of theirs, and Anny flitted about getting candles for the visitors.
Dick looked at Big French as they stood for a moment alone together before the dying fire.
“Methinks thy horses will not have recovered from their lameness by to-morrow, friend French,” he said, as Anny, two lighted candles in her hand, appeared at an inner doorway.
French followed the direction of the other’s eyes, then he shrugged his broad shoulders.
“As you wish, Captain,” he said carelessly, and wondered why the Spaniard should laugh so triumphantly at his answer.
Some minutes later all was still in the Ship Tavern. Hal Grame alone stood before the fast-graying embers in the kitchen, thinking miserably. For the first time since he could remember, his childhood’s sweetheart had forgotten to kiss him as she bade him good-night.
CHAPTER V
“AN EXCELLENT repast, fair mistress, and one I warrant you well appreciated.”