‘Why don’t it lie in my mouth, seeing I was the first which knowed Frankie for all he was?’ The burly sack-clad man puffed down at cool little Puck.
‘Yes, and the first which set out to poison him—Frankie—on the high seas——’
Simon’s angry face changed to a sheepish grin. He waggled his immense hands, but Puck stood off and laughed mercilessly.
‘But let me tell you, Mus’ Robin,’ he pleaded.
‘I’ve heard the tale. Tell the children here. Look, Dan! Look, Una!’—Puck’s straight brown finger levelled like an arrow. ‘There’s the only man that ever tried to poison Sir Francis Drake!’
‘Oh, Mus’ Robin! Tidn’t fair. You’ve the ‘vantage of us all in your upbringin’s by hundreds o’ years. ‘Stands to nature you know all the tales against every one.’
He turned his soft eyes so helplessly on Una that she cried, ‘Stop ragging him, Puck! You know he didn’t really.’
‘I do. But why are you so sure, little maid?’
‘Because—because he doesn’t look like it,’ said Una stoutly.
‘I thank you,’ said Simon to Una. ‘I—I was always trustable like with children if you let me alone, you double handful o’ mischief!’ He pretended to heave up his axe on Puck; and then his shyness overtook him afresh.