"Come, come; I retract my sneers. You begin to excite my admiration.
I shall undoubtedly shoot you before I'm taken, but it shall be your
comfort to die amid expressions of esteem."

"You'm mistaken. I came to save 'ee, if you'll be quick."

"How?"

"I've a load of ore-weed outside, in the cart. By the lie o' the
cottage none can spy ye while you slip underneath it; but I'll fetch a
glance round, to make sure. Underneath it you'll be safe, and I'll
drive 'ee past the sailors, and send 'em on here to search."

"You develop apace. But perhaps you'll admit a flaw in your scheme.
What on earth induced you to imagine I should trust you?"

"Man, I reckoned all that. My word's naught. But 'tis your one
chance--and I would kneel to 'ee, if by kneelin' I could persuade 'ee.
We'll fight it out after; bring your pistols. Only come!"

The stranger slipped on his other shoe, then his waistcoat and jacket,
whistling softly. Then he stepped to the chimney-piece, took down his
pistols, and stowed them in his coat-pockets.

"I'm quite ready."

Zeb heaved a great sigh like a sob; but only said:--

"Wait a second while I see that the coast's clear."