"Aha!" quoth the fellow, peering across the blaze, "And who be
you? Stand and give a show o' your figurehead!" Obediently I
stood with hands outspread to the flame, warming my shivering
body at its grateful heat.

"Well?" says I.

"Why," quoth he, nodding, "You're big enough and wild enough and
as likely a cut-throat as another--what's the lay?"

"The high pad!" says I.

"Where away?"

"'Tis no matter!"

"All I asks is," quoth the fellow with a quizzical look, "how
you've fobbed the nubbing-cheat so long!"

"And what I ask is," quoth I, "how a sailor-man comes to know the
patter o' the flash coves!"

"'Tis no matter," says he, "but since you're o' the Brotherhood
sit ye and welcome, 'tis dry enough here in this cave."

Staying for no second bidding I entered the little cave and sat
me down in the comforting warmth of the fire. The man was a
comely fellow of a hectoring, swashing air, bright of eyes and
instant of gesture; close to hand lay a short cutting-sword,
pistols bulged his deep coat-pockets, while betwixt his knees was