With a twist of the hand the hairy man made his throw, and as the three evil heads stooped above the dice, I clambered through the window, levelled pistol in one hand, heavy staff in the other.
"What d'ye set?" quoth I. The three sprang apart and stared at me quite chapfallen.
"What's to do?" growled one.
"First your barking-irons--lay them here on the table and quick's the word!" One after another they drew the weapons from their belts, and one by one I tossed them through the window.
"What!" quoth one, a lank rogue with a patch over one eye and winking the other jovial-wise, "How now, mate o' mine, shall dog bite dog then?"
"Aye," says I, "and with a will!"
"Nay, nay, shipmate," quoth another, a plump, small man with round, bright eyes and but one ear, "easy now--easy. We be three lorn mariners d'ye see--jolly dogs, bully boys, shipmate--a little fun wi' a pretty lass--nought to harm d'ye see, sink me! Join us and welcome, says I, share and share alike O!"
"Aye, I'll join you," quoth I, "but first--you wi' the rings--open the door!" Here the hairy fellow growled an oath and reached for an empty tankard, and thereupon got the end of my staff driven shrewdly into his midriff so that he sank to the floor and lay gasping.
"Nay now, shipmate," quoth the plump man in wheedling tone but round eyes snapping, "here's lubberly manners, sink and scuttle me--"
"Open the door!" says I.
"Heartily--heartily!" says he, his eye upon my cudgel, and edging to the door, drew the bolts and set it wide.
"Woman," quoth I, "run!"
With never a word the maid sprang erect, caught her torn cloak about her and, speeding across the room, was gone; whereupon the lank fellow sat him down and fell a-cursing viciously in Spanish and English, the plump man clicked his teeth and grinned, while 'Rings,' leaning against the wall, clasped his belly and groaned.
"Well so, my bully roarer, and what now?" demanded the plump man, softly.
"Why now," says I, "'twas share and share alike, I mind--"
"Aye, but she's off, slipped her moorings d'ye see, my good lad, and be damned t' ye wi' all my heart," said the little plump man, smiling, but with the devil peeping through his narrowed lids.
"Look'ee," says I, laying a groat upon the table, "there's my all--come turn out your pockets--"
"Pockets!" murmured the plump man, "Lord love me, what's this? Here's us cheated of a bit of daintiness, here's Abner wi' all the wind knocked out o' him and now here's you for thieving and robbing three poor lorn sailor-men as never raised hand agin ye--shame, shipmate."