“Well, well,” said he, “next time we’ll call thee Puritan and burn thee—that will make the balance straight. Meanwhile join us, and scour that frown off thy visage,” and he clapped me on the back with a whack which made my nag prick up her ears and jump a foot off the ground.
It took me some time to follow his last advice; but as the fellow seemed honest, though a fool, and he and his comrades made little more pace than I did, I made the best of what I could not help, and ambled beside him at the tail of the troop.
Then he told me that they were going to Wales to get together provisions for an expedition to Ireland, and offered me good pay and plenty of knocks if I would only join them.
“We shall have a merry time of it,” said he, “with a merry man for captain.”
At this I pricked my ears.
“What is his name?” asked I.
“What I say: Captain Merriman, a gallant officer, and a desperate man of war.”
“I know he is that,” said I, with the blood rushing to my temples.
“You know him, then?” said the man, “and you will join us. Ho! ho! Who would thought I could find him such a recruit?”
“Before I serve under your Captain Merriman,” said I, losing temper, “you may do what you promised last night, and hang me up on the nearest tree.”